KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Putrajaya must suspend the acquisition of the two firms behind the Automated Enforcement System (AES) until it clarifies if taxpayers could end up footing a RM3.8 billion bill from the takeover, PAS MP Datuk Mahfuz Omar said today.
The chairman of the party’s previous Anti Postal Summons Campaign (KASE) also called the government’s announced takeover of the two firms — Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd — “premature” as the government’s AES steering committee has yet to complete a detailed study.
“The acting minister only gave the guarantee that no one will be profiting from the acquisition, but what about the compensation?” he said in a statement, referring to Acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
He pointed out that the government previously announced in Parliament that the nationwide project would cost the companies RM717 million.
“The government and the two companies had agreed to profit through the three-step formula, and according to the agreement, the companies will make at least RM769.6 million a year and over five years, it can go up to RM3,848 million.
“So how much does the government have to pay, is it RM717 million or RM3,848 million?” he asked.
The Pokok Sena MP also questioned if forming a special purpose vehicle AES Solution Sdn Bhd to buy into both the companies in stages would allay doubts over the legality of private firms issuing traffic fines, even if the SPV is government-linked.
“All these while, the contentious issue here is using a private company to enforce the law.
“If AES Solution Sdn Bhd buys shares from Beta Tegap and Ates, there would be no difference because the AES enforcement would involve the private sector, even though it is a government-linked company.
“It is clear that the government is trying to bail-out Beta Tegap and Ates,” he said.
Mahfuz reiterated the need to make public the details of the agreement because it does not involve national security.
“I urge the government to be government to be transparent and stop the implementation of the AES until all studies are completed,” he said.
Under the AES scheme, the initial plan was to install 1,093 cameras nationwide, with the scheme currently in its pilot phase with 14 already installed in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor and Perak.
