AES – operations officially handed over to PDRM

Some news about the Automated Enforcement System (AES) – it will now be run by the police, Bernamareports. Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that all operational aspects of the system have been handed over to Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).

“I confirm that the AES has been officially handed over to the police. It’s now in force at all locations where the cameras are installed,” he told reporters at an event during the weekend. Thus far, 14 AES cameras are operational in the country – the pilot project units are placed in seven locations in northern Zon A and seven places in central Zon B.

Last month, it was reported that the federal government was looking into taking over the operation and enforcement of the system from the two concessionaires which were appointed to run it. A steering committee was appointed to discuss the matter and determine the direction and expansion of the the AES.

Initially, two private companies, Beta Tegap and ATES, were appointed to run the RM700 million project. Beta Tegap, utilising equipment from Australian-based Redflex Traffic Systems, was supposed to run AES for the southern region, while ATES, which opted for equipment from German company Jenoptik Robot, would be responsible for the rest of the country, including Sabah and Sarawak.

Earlier in July, a news report indicated that as many as 1,079 AES cameras are to be installed nationwide – their locations have yet to be identified, but would be determined by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety and Research (MIROS) in the near future.

Last year, at the advent of the system’s introduction, it was announced that the cameras were set to be deployed in 831 “black spot” areas on highways as well as stretches of state and federal roads.