Tug of war over automated traffic summons as firm linked to Najib’s aide wins deal
(The Malaysian Insider) – KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 — An automated enforcement system (AES) project for traffic summonses to be put in place by September has resulted in unhappiness from the police after the Road Transport Department (RTD) dished out the deal to two firms, one linked to a close confidante of the prime minister.
ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, which has denied rumours it is linked to MCA, will spend between RM300 million to RM400 million each to set up traffic cameras at 831 “black spots” nationwide in a move which some in the police force view as an encroachment into their turf, according to The Edge.
ATES Sdn Bhd’s director Chee Chwee Cheong is also a founding partner of influential advisory house Ethos Consulting headed by Omar Mustapha, a former special officer to Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Those who are happy say the police can now focus on policing but imagine if your role is that of a traffic police officer. What will your role be now that you have these cameras?” the business weekly quoted a source close to the deal.
But RTD director-general Datuk Solah Mat Hassan told the newspaper the system will only be set up in areas with high incidences of fatal accidents.
“About 6,000 people die in road accidents every year. That’s quite alarming. That is only the fatal accident figures. What about other non-fatal accidents?” he was quoted as saying.
However, The Edge reported that the police is said to be firming up plans to boost its own traffic camera system.
