PARLIAMENT The government has assured transparency in taking over the operation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES).

Deputy Transport Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said an independent audit firm had been appointed to ensure the payment was fair and reasonable.

“The total number of cameras installed has also been reduced to 310, as compared to about 800 proposed earlier as the company taking over is not profit-oriented,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Mahfuz had asked the government to give details of the agreement in the takeover of the operation of the two companies which managed AES earlier, namely ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, by a government-owned company, AES Solutions Sdn Bhd.

Abdul Aziz said no further clarification could be given on the takeover as it was subjected to the Official Secrets Act 1972.

Currently, 14 AES cameras are in operation nationwide, except in Malacca.  

Earlier, when answering an original question from Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim (BN-Baling) pertaining to a holistic operation and AES enforcement, Abdul Aziz said that effective Sept 18, the starting compound rate was RM150, depending on the level of seriousness of the offences committed.

He said the rate would be increased based on the principle of “the more you delay, the more you pay”.

- Bernama