ONLY four out of the 45 mobile automated enforcement system (AES) cameras on Malaysian highways are currently in working condition, a fact hidden from the transport minister by the Road Transport Department (RTD), said sources.

Sources told The Malaysian Insight that 41 cameras supposedly operational under the awareness automated safety system (AWAS) have been out of order for some time now.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke has been kept in the dark as officials feared reprisal, they said.

The RTD took over the operations and maintenance of these cameras last September.

The department also rebranded the AES to AWAS to reflect a new focus of reminding drivers to be more careful rather than being punitive.

As part of that restructuring exercise, RTD reintroduced the demerit point system where drivers will be punished for breaking traffic laws, including running red lights and driving over the speed limit.

However, the restructuring exercise has not taken off due to lack of expertise at RTD to calibrate, maintain and use the cameras.

The Malaysian Insight also learnt that a speed camera in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, has been out of service for more than eight months after being hit by a trailer.

Ministry sources said the four working AWAS cameras are at Km17 Jalan Gua Musang-Kuala Krai and three along the East Coast Highway.

“Rest of the (AWAS) cameras are just white elephants from the time RTD took over on September 1 last year.”

The source added that the non-working 41 cameras are still at their original locations but are useless.

RTD took over the operations and maintenance of the cameras after cancelling a contract to manage the cameras given to Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd by the previous Barisan Nasional administration.

The new government also cancelled all AES summonses totalling RM435 million.

Sources said the RTD’s plan to fix removable AWAS cameras has not taken off yet due to maintenance issues.

They said there are about 115 cameras left idle in the store of government agency AES Solutions Sdn Bhd in Subang.

Last month, Deputy Transport Minister Kamarudin Jaffar said highway operator Plus Malaysia Berhad will install 11 new AWAS cameras along the North-South Expressway.

The new cameras are in addition to the 19 cameras installed along the expressway. These cameras are funded by Plus Malaysia.

Enforcement will be carried out by the RTD. – June 5, 2019.