Although sympathetic to PAS' call to ignore Automated Traffic Enforcement System (AES) summons, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng stopped short of supporting the move because the summons are legally valid.

"We (Pakatan Rakyat) have not made a joint decision. I am now representing the Penang state government. I cannot tell people to flout the law like that.

"Let us have a discussion first before I make such a call," he said, adding that the date of the next Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council meeting has yet to be fixed.

Lim, who is also the DAP secretary general, was speaking at a press conference this morning after launching the DAP Selangor Annual Convention in Petaling Jaya.

He said he also wanted to wait for a discussion with the Ministry of Transport on the matter before making a decision.

Lim opposes the system and has suspended its implementation in Penang pending further study . Other Pakatan Rakyat-led states followed suit.

Monopoly

Previously, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar’s call to ignore the AES summons because it was unjust and benefits crony companies.

 

Mahfuz added that a NGO that he leads will prepare lawyers for those wishing to challenge the AES notices in court.

Lim could only stress repeatedly that he is sympathetic and understands that Mahfuz felt that the system was unfair, but “whether we like it or not these are summons issued under the law.”

 

When asked if he would agree if the concessions were not given to the two companies that operate the system, Lim said, “At least then it won’t be so repulsive.

 

“Because these are elements that the public have strong objections to: Privatise and commercialise,” he said.

 

The two companies that set up and operate the system are Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd. In exchange, they are entitled a cut of the fines collected from the traffic offences it recorded.