LOKE: ONLY FOOLS WOULD SIGN AES DEAL
Transport minister slams MCA leaders for criticising cancellation of agreement
TRANSPORT Minister Anthony Loke took a swipe at those who criticised the government for cancelling the Automated Enforcement System summonses, especially MCA leaders.
He said the government could not accept lopsided agreements such as those between the previous government and the two concessionaires, ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd.
“There are two tiers of payments made to these two companies. Under Tier 1, the government pays RM16 for every summons issued. For Tier 2 payment, 50 per cent of the collected summons,
at the rate of RM300 each, is paid to the companies.”
Loke said the government could not accept the move to privatise enforcement because the government would get the short end of the deal.
In this respect, he said he could accept criticism from anyone but MCA leaders.
He claimed that this was due to the fact that it was an MCA leader who had helmed the Transport Ministry when the AES came into force, which resulted in the unsettled AES issues.
“Only fools would sign such (a lopsided) agreement. Please use your brain before you talk, as it would reflect poorly on MCA,” he said.
On Sept 1, when RTD takes over the AES operation, Loke said the AES cameras would be installed at locations recommended by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research.
Loke warned motorists to keep to the speed limit despite the
government’s decision to cancel AES summonses handed out before Sept 1.
He said even though vehicles caught speeding by AES cameras until the end of the month would not be penalised, police speed traps were operational.
“I have instructed the Road Transport Department director-general last week to get in touch with the police, requesting that they intensify their enforcement to catch speed demons in the next two weeks,” he said yesterday.
He also told his detractors, who had accused him and the government of being “wussy” for cancelling the unpaid AES summons worth RM435 million, that they would change their tune come next month.
“Don’t say after Sept 1 that I am harsh and merciless. We are in the midst of fine-tuning the AES enforcement, including the summons rate that I will announce later.”