Former Kapar MP G Manivannan, of PKR, was referring to a FMT report last week quoting Amanah’s Khalid Samad as saying former opposition members only criticised the AES because it was privatised to two companies and the money went to them.
“When you say privatised, it means the collection of the fines go to private companies. The fines that are collected do not go to the government, the police or the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
“So now, under the PH government, we changed that. The collections from the summonses don’t go to private companies. It all goes to the JPJ and the government,” the federal territories minister had said in supporting AES.
But Manivannan recalled how there were other factors which led PH leaders to protest against the AES, including the high cost of living, a likely reference to the hefty RM300 fine imposed for AES summonses.
In a statement today, the Bagan Datuk PKR chief said any such “rebranded” efforts by the PH government of Barisan Nasional policies will “hurt the public”.
“When will a government understand that speeding is not the only main cause of road accidents?
“When was the last time we reviewed the speed limit for every highway in Malaysia?”
Manivannan questioned if his “friends” within the PH government are considering amending the Road Transport Act 1987 and the National Speed Limit Orders 1989 in order for this to be realised.
“If we decide to punish and fine Malaysians to decrease the number of road accidents and deaths, the people will judge us with the same tape used to measure the integrity and ingenuity of former ministers.
“Therefore, I, as a citizen, urge that the AES cameras be abolished, as promised before GE14.
“We should be more attentive to the voices of the people and they are not comfortable with this ‘U-turn’ on AES.”
Manivannan proposed that a holistic study be undertaken to identify the source of road accidents, which could then be debated upon, and not “modify the facts and statistics in order to introduce new policies”.
“I also propose that highway speeds be assessed and updated according to current circumstances and developments.”
Putrajaya said the two companies operating the AES — Ates Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd — made RM129 million from traffic summonses from the time it was introduced in 2012 up to May 2018.
Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook has since said that the scheme was taken over fully by the JPJ from Sept 1 last year after the government decided not to renew the contracts with Beta Tegap and Ates.
The Armed Forces Fund Board is said to have invested some RM555 million to take over the AES from these companies. Loke later said a lopsided agreement saw the two firms entitled to 50% of AES fines.