Gerakan has urged the government to be transparent in the mooted takeover of the Automated Enforcement System (AES), which was initially contracted to private companies.

“The takeover by the government should be done in a transparent manner to avoid abuse and to protect the public interest,” said Gerakan secretary-general Mah Siew Keong in a statement today.

Mah said the planned takeover showed the government was listening to the public’s demands and hoped proceeds from the summonses will now go to improving road safety.

“Any proceeds of the summonses issued for traffic offenxes captured by the AES should be part of the public purse and not enjoyed by private individuals,” he said.

Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd were initially tasked to manage the AES, where they were entitled to a cut of all summonses.

The apparent privatisation of law enforcement led to a firestorm of protest and long queues in court when offenders were summoned after refusing to pay the fines.

‘Compensation question mark’

Acting Transport Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has since announced the planned takeover, but did not disclose if the two companies would be compensated.

Even though the companies will not longer earn a cut from the summonses after the takeover, the government has come under attack from the opposition as any compensation will likely be at the expense of public funds.

In July this year, the two companies were reportedly in trouble with their financiers after failing to repay their loans on time.

The companies were reportedly facing cash flow problems after the government put a freeze on the summonses as offenders refused to pay them.