WHAT about the deal itself? AES can reduce corruption – Putrajaya

KOTA KINABALU- Automation can reduce instances of corruption as it leaves no room for negotiation, National Key Result Area (NKRA) against corruption monitoring and coordination division director Datuk Hisham Nordin said.

According to him, the division had encouraged automation in enforcement agencies and this was after taking into consideration studies conducted in the US, where police vehicles were equipped with a recording system to record what was happening when drivers were stopped for traffic offences.

“With the interaction between driver and enforcement officer being recorded, there is no room and opportunity for corruption to happen,” he said, adding that this was among the reasons why they had suggested that automatic enforcement system be implemented in Malaysia.

Hisham, when briefing Sabah non-governmental organisations (NGOs) about the NRKA against corruption, stressed that the people should support the newly implemented Automated Enforcement System (AES) to catch motorists who speed and run red lights.

“I know some of the rakyat are complaining and they claim it is not fair but as responsible and highly disciplined Malaysians, we must support this effort because it is to prevent corruption,” he told reporters later.

“The AES does not allow any interaction or negotiation between the enforcement officer and the suspected offender. This reduces jurisdiction and negotiations because when you allow this to happen, it will open up more opportunities for corruption,” he said.

“It is all on paper and supported by a video recording as well as computerized data. That is where we are moving. If we want to be on the same level as other developed countries, we must be ready to accept some new ideas such as automation on our system.”

The AES, which captures pictures and video images of cars speeding or jumping the red lights in targeted areas, and issues summonses accordingly to offenders, began on Sept 23 with 14 cameras installed in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Perak.

This is just a small number of the 831 cameras to be installed nationwide at accident-prone areas to make people drive safer, and bring the number of road accidents and fatalities down.

Unlike the old system where the police move from one area to another and who, at times, seem to hide or jump out from bushes to take traffic offenders by surprise, with the AES, the location of the 831 cameras is fixed and made known to the public (see www.jpj.gov.my for the locations). There are also signboards (though not an adequate number yet) indicating areas where the AES cameras are fixed.

The RM300 summons issued under the AES is non-negotiable. If you commit the offence, you pay because the camera and video images are unquestionable evidence.

-theborneopost.com