MCA leaders left to defend AES as BN comrades echo PR's stand

18 Zulhijjah 1433H. [MOD] - In the face of stiff opposition on both sides of the political divide to the Automatic Enforcement System (AES) involving two private companies, MCA found itself as the only party in Barisan Nasional to defend the controversial traffic monitoring system. Transport minister Kong Cho Ha has again pleaded to the public to give AES a chance. Quoted by the party's mouthpiece The Star, Kong argued that AES was one of the best ways to make people more responsible on the road, and claimed that there had been a 60 percent dip in traffic offences since its implementation. He also claimed that initial “backlash” in countries where AES was implemented had later turned into public approval following its effectiveness in reducing accidents. Kong, who is MCA's Lumut member of parliament, insisted that AES had received “strong support from the people”. MCA's Women chief Yu Chok Tow meanwhile backed Kong saying the public should offer “workable proposal” if they objected to AES. Kong and Yu’s defence on AES came even as comrades in UMNO and Gerakan called for the AES to be suspended. The AES has already been blocked by four Pakatan Rakyat states pending a thorough study. Earlier, UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said AES had too many weaknesses while Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin said was not the right time to implement because the election was near. UMNO's Kangar MP Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the public should have been consulted before the implementation of AES. While Gerakan central bureau member Cheah Soon Hai said his party received numerous complaints over summonses issued by AES. Even UMNO's staunchest supporter, Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, has thrown his support behind calls for suspension of the AES. (Hdaily-English)