KUCHING: Pan-Malaysia Lorry Owners’ Association (PMLOA) yesterday welcomed the government’s move to take over the operation and enforcement of the Automated Enforcement System (AES).
Its president Jong Foh Jit said the taking over of the AES by the government is indeed a smart move which will be supported by many.
“PMLOA thinks positively of the implementation of AES as it can provide fair and good evidence to book traffic offenders. On the other hand, it (AES) can generate huge profit that can be used to implement many projects beneficial to all Malaysians,” said Jong, who is from Sarawak, in an emailed statement yesterday.
Jong was responding to news reports quoting acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as saying the government is set to take over the controversial AES, which will be managed by a wholly-owned government company.
Hishammuddin had told reporters in Putrajaya that the proposed takeover followed strong public objections on “who was implementing the system and collecting the fines”.
The AES is currently under the management of two private firms ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd.
The system captures pictures and video images of vehicles speeding or beating traffic lights in targeted areas, and the Road Transport Department will then issue summonses to the offenders based on data collected.
The system began on Sept 23 last year, with 14 cameras installed in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Perak.
Another 404 cameras will be installed under a roll-out plan scheduled on Sept 22.