Crying foul over contract for traffic speed cameras
By Teoh El Sen, Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: A sophisticated speed camera to nab traffic offenders has snapped its first victim – the Ministry of Transport.
The ministry is about to award a contract for the nationwide implementation of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) — a state-of-the art device to catch offenders — but a local company is crying foul.
Tess Capital Sdn Bhd, an E-road technology solutions company, claimed that the ministry is all set to announce the recipients of the contract — Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and Commercial Circle (M) Sdn Bhd.
“We feel we have been sidelined,” said Tess Capital executive director Soh Joon Hang. He added that seven companies have bid for the contract and only the two are likely to get the nod.
He said he came to know about the impending outcome by sources close to the ministry.
Soh added that he had lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission on March 25 this year, alleging abuse of power and “manipulation” by the Road Transport Department (RTD) in the tender evaluation exercise for the AES.
“MACC has not updated us on the progress of its investigation… the whole thing is shrouded in secrecy… until today we do not know what happened…” said Soh.
He said the trial demonstration was also questionable.
“One of our engineers from Australia working with us was present during the live demo in 2007 and based on his observation, the whole exercise was deemed ‘selective and subjective’.”
“It seemed as though we were intentionally sidelined… the RTD had already made up its mind before the demo was held,” said Soh, adding that he was told Tess Capital scored the highest in accuracy during the trial run.
Home-grown technology
Soh said the seven companies, including Tess Capital, conducted the demonstration of their AES during the tender process in June 2007.
“Our AES is a home-grown technology whereas the AES of the other companies is based on foreign technology,” he said.
“Now, why is the ministry awarding the contract to these two companies? We feel we are equally qualified and capable of operating the system though our technology is home-bred,” he added.
The AES was mooted four years ago and the then transport minister Ong Kee Keat had said it was only last year that the ministry had ironed out some wrinkles in the system.
The system is widely used in some developed countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Basically, the AES comprises cameras installed at accident-prone areas and traffic light junctions.
The devices are able to detect speeding vehicles and those who beat the red light.
It is understood that the entire installation cost would come to about RM700 million.
