MP's motion on AES shot down by speaker

A motion to reallocate RM10 from the Transport Ministry's 2013 budget allocation and force a debate on the Automated Enforcement System (AES) for traffic offences was rejected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia in chambers today.

"The speaker said that my motion did not fulfil the requirements under 66(9)," lamented Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who held up the Speaker's letter to reporters.

Speaking at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today, Pua said his motion filed two weeks ago was a strategic, last ditch effort to force a debate on the AES system as he believes not enough has been discussed about the initiative despite it already being implemented.

He explained that he had submitted a motion to move RM10 from the law enforcement allocation to the road safety funding under the ministry's 2013 budget allocation.

Standing Order 66(9) allows for MPs to propose cuts to the expenditure list in a Bill.

Pua said he had hoped the motion would force an AES debate in the House as the issue was an important matter.

He said it should be looked into in the name of public interest and should be discussed before it could be allowed to run full steam.

On the rejection of his motion, the MP complained that his proposal was not given leave despite the speaker saying that while he would no longer entertain token pay cut motions that may impinge on the rights of ministers, he might consider it for other matters related to the budget.

"This has nothing to do with the prime minister, nor does it touch on minister's rights," lamented Pua.

The AES system raised a furore on both sides of the House when it was announced for full implementation, with both MPs from the opposition and BN backbenchers coming at it with fists swinging.

Many contend that the system seems to be more a trap to generate money for cronies than any real means of reducing road accidents and fatalities.