Loke 'kept in the dark' about 41 out-of-order speed cameras

Transport Minister Anthony Loke is being kept in the dark about a majority of the mobile automated enforcement system (AES) cameras being out of order by the Road Transport Department (RTD) for fear of punishment.

Though 45 AES cameras are supposed to be operational, only four of them are purportedly in working condition, sources say, as reported by The Malaysian Insight today.

However, the RTD in a statement denied this, stating that only a few cameras were out of order due to accidents and wiring issues.

"All 41 cameras are in good and functioning condition," it said, adding that 169,051 summonses have been issued as of May this year.

"The RTD also denies that it has no expertise to operate the cameras as claimed," it said.

The report said had said 41 cameras were out-of-service due to the RTD’s lack of expertise to maintain and use the AES cameras, after it took over the operations and maintenance of the system in September last year.

The four working cameras are at Km17 Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai and three along the East Coast Highway, according to ministry sources.

“The rest of the cameras are just white elephants from the time RTD took over on Sept 1 last year,” said the source.

The 41 out-of-order cameras are still at their original locations, though they cannot be used, the source added.

A speed camera in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, has purportedly been inoperable for more than eight months after being hit by a trailer.

Meanwhile, sources said there are about 115 cameras left unused in storage by a government agency in Subang.

Last year, the Transport Ministry cancelled a contract given to Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd by the previous government to operate and manage the cameras.

The RTD took over the operations and maintenance of the cameras and rebranded the AES as Awas.

The Pakatan Harapan government also cancelled all AES summonses under the old administration, totalling RM435 million.