If goal is to educate motorists, then name the location of SPEED TRAPS

If educating motorists is indeed the main motive behind the automatic traffic enforcement system (AES) cameras, the government should then reveal their location.

In making this demand, Malaysian Youth Solidarity Movement said by telling drivers the location of the cameras, motorists would abide by traffic rules.

“The Transport ministry and Road Transport Department or police should reveal the location of AES cameras so that drivers can take extra precaution during their journey home for Hari Raya,” said SAMM national coordinator Yaser Sheikh Abdul Rahman.

The AES system, a new speed trap system which critics have claimed was to profit politically-linked businessmen, had came under fire following the revelation of a profit-sharing scheme for the operating companies through money collected from summonses issued.

Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, allegedly linked to MCA, and ATES Sdn Bhd which installed traffic observation cameras to nab traffic offenders on the southern and northern sides, are entitled to RM16 per summonse for the first five million issued. The remaining revenue will be shared with the government up to a cap of RM270 million each, according to a report.

The AES system will be in operation from August 12, ahead of Hari Raya celebration when traffic summonses usually peak.

Yaser hit out at the government for ignoring protests over the privatisation of traffic summonse.

He said SAMM would embark on its own road safety campaign and urged the people to be extra careful on roads so that they would not enrich AES operators.

PKR treasurer William Leong had earlier questioned the profit-sharing deal between the companies

"Once it’s over 5 million [summonses], the Transport Ministry will get 50 percent and both companies will receive the other 50 percent,” he said, adding that both Beta Tegap and ATES could potentially earn up to RM272 million a year.

-Harakahdaily