Automated Enforcement System (AES) has been a hot topic in Parliament during the policy debate for Budgeet 2013 yesterday. There are pro and against from both divides in the HOUSE. The same in the cyber space. They are some who are blindly supporting or against the AES without knowing how was the AES project awarded to the two companies. Yours truly has spoken about the AES in Parliament during the 2011 session.
Yours truly is for any AES that will ensure safety for the motoring public. All Malaysians want to see less accidents involving death especially during the festive seasons. No one should object to the AES except on the RM300 fine and the way in which the fine was apportioned between the two companies and the Government. The issue here is about transparency in the way in which the AES was awarded to the two companies in 2005/2006, during the Badawi’s Administration. The law was only ameneded for the implementation of the AES during the last session of Parliament in June 2012.
The two companies that have been awarded to carry out AES were:
BETA TEGAP SDN BHD which was incorporated on 07-02-2004.
It is a dormant company with no account submitted to the SSM.
The directors are:
Nik Ismail bin Nik Mohamed
To’ Puan Roazana binti Hj Redzuan
Dr Andreas Teoh who is also the manager.
The shareholders are:
Nik Ismail bin Nik Mohamed 3,080,000 shares
Dato’ Mohd Yunus Bin Othman 280,000 shares
Yap Kim See @ Yap Ai Lin 700,000 shares
To’ Puan Roazana Binti Hj Redzuan 5,740,000 shares
Dr Andreas Teoh 4,200,000 shares
It is using the AES by Redflex, which is based in South Melbourne, Australia.
COMMERCIAL CIRCLE (MALAYSIA) SDN BHD which was incorporated on 06-06-1985.
It has been submitting its account yearly in accordance with the rules.
Its nature of business are:
License holder and supplier of Defense and police equipment to Government Departments
Supplies amd installation of traffic surveillance camersas and law enforcement equipment as well as the maintenance and servicing of such equipment.
The directors are:
Wong Ah Nooi @ Ng Siew Bee
Foong Yook Seng @Lawrence Foong Yook Seng
Norsiah binti Abu Asid
Md Sepian Bin Ramli
The shareholders are:
Foong Yook seng @ Lawrence Foong Yook Seng 120,002 shares
Michael Foong Ka-Meng 240,005 shares
Norsiah Binti Abu Asid 240,005 shares
It is using the Robot system which is from Germany.
It was strange that these two companies were awarded the AES in 2005/2006 when YB Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy was the then Minsiter of Transport. Recently he has been charged with three counts of cheating the then Premier Abdullah Badawi by deceiving him into approving the turnkey project in PKFZ . He was alleged to have committed the offence at the famous 4th FLOOR in the PM office in Putrajaya. The case is pending in court.
These two companiues are using two different AES. Therefore, there was no uniformity in the AES in Malaysia.
Initially when the AES Bill was tabled in Parliament the proposed fine was RM1,000 per offense, all vehicles will also had to replace the existing number plates to the costly electronic plates provided exclusively by certain companies but the MPs of BN Back Benchers Club (BBC) strongly opposed to the said proposals and the said Bill was withdrawn. Hence, the fine was finally reduced to RM300 and the implementation of the electronic number plate was abandoned due to strong objections from MPs.
Yours truly, has questioned the Deputy Minister of Transport during the Budget debate yesterday why was these two companies selected in 2005/2006 at the time when the AES was not even tabled in Parliament and why two different systems of AES (i.e Redflex and Robot) were used. The Deputy Minster of Transport did not provide answers to the said questions.
Even if due diligence has been carried out in 2005/2006, the data obtained 6 years ago would have been outdated by 2012 due to changing circumstances. Therefore, the Government ought to re-look into the way the project was awarded. It would not be too much to ask for a new tender to be carried out in the spirit of transparency. If the tender is carried out in a transparent manner and there are merits, it is still not too late to award the AES to the above two companies. Yours truly will definitely support the decision as we are all for public safety in general.
Yours truly is certain that AES will be a hot issue during the Committee Stage of the Budget debate which is coming up next week.
This issues here are about the transparency in the award of the AES to the two companies before the AES law was even passed in Parliament, whether a proper study and due deligent was made before awarding to the AES Project and whether the implementation of AES is predominantly about profits.
Hopefully no one will be charged for deceiving the then Minister of Transport, YB Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, and/or the then Premier YAB Tun Abdullah Badawi at the 4th Floor of PM Office into awarding the AES projects.
There is an interesting article on Redflex in HERE.
