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Who signed the agreements that forced the government to compensate private firms operating the Automated Enforcement System (AES) regardless of fines collected? Ask the 2 MCA Ministers of Transport, Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
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24 August 2018
The government will only repay the RM555 million capital invested by the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) to take over the Automated Enforcement System (AES) project, and will not consider paying LTAT for other AES-related matters, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
In saying this, Loke said the government has no intention to review the repayment figures as “it was a bad decision by LTAT in the first place”, referring to the board’s decision to take over two AES project concessionaire companies – ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd.
“As far as the government is concerned, our position is that we will only repay RM555 million.
“Of course they thought there will be profit, and the current chairman tries to justify that it was a good investment. That is subject to LTAT members to evaluate,” he told reporters during a press conference in Putrajaya today.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/440159
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23 August 2018
KUALA LUMPUR: A former chairman of the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) today defended its involvement in the Automated Enforcement System (AES) which has come under fire from the transport minister and the National Patriots Association.
Admiral (rtd) Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor called on the new government, in cancelling the AES project, to be fair and pay LTAT whatever sums due in accordance with the concession agreement LTAT signed with the previous government.
He said the Barisan Nasional government had invited LTAT to take over two companies running the AES and that it did so because the project would help reduce road accidents, allow LTAT to have a sustainable income, and offer job opportunities to armed forces veterans.
Anwar said this in response to remarks made by Transport Minister Anthony Loke who had described the AES agreement as one that “only a fool would sign” as the proceeds from the AES summonses would go to the two concessionaires – ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd – and not the government.
That was why, Loke said, the government had decided to cancel the AES.
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In a statement today, Anwar, who is also president of the Malaysian Veterans Association, said LTAT was invited by the previous government to take over ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, the two companies which had been awarded the contract to supply, install and maintain 1,093 cameras at strategic locations on roads and highways and traffic lights throughout Malaysia in 2014.
He said LTAT decided to take over the AES after “a thorough study and due diligence” and after the project was deemed commercially viable “with a strong double-digit return on investment for LTAT besides helping to create opportunities for employment to armed forces veterans and reducing accidents and fatalities on Malaysian roads”.
“In accordance with LTAT’s investment procedures, the proposal was presented to and approved by LTAT, investment panel and board of directors.”
He said in 2015, the Cabinet approved the proposed acquisition of the AES project by LTAT and in November 2016, the Cabinet approved a new financial model, including a new fee structure for the AES project.
He said in 2015, the Cabinet approved the proposed acquisition of the AES project by LTAT and in November 2016, the Cabinet approved a new financial model, including a new fee structure for the AES project.
However, he said, in November 2017, the government, through the finance ministry, decided to take over the AES project from LTAT and to pay back all LTAT’s investment cost in the AES project plus 12% return per annum.
He said it would be unfair if the government today were to “pay back only LTAT’s money used to acquire the two companies without paying back all other expenses spent to-date by LTAT on the project plus the 12% return per annum as agreed by the previous government upon the takeover of AES in November 2017”.
It would also be a violation of the concession agreement signed by the two parties, he added.
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WHO OWNS THE AES?
1. Two companies are the owners, Ates Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap.
2. Ates Sdn Bhd is owned by Commercial Circle (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (40%) and Traffen Force Sdn Bhd (60%). Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, Election Commission (EC) chairman (2009 – 2016) owns 60% of shares in Commercial Circle.
This is Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof
2. Beta Tegap is owned jointly by Dr Andreas Teoh, Mohd Yunos Othman, Rozana Redzuan, General (Rtd) Nik Ismail Nik Mohamed and Yap Kim See @ Yap Ai Lin.
This is Rozana Redzuan.
Rozana binti Redzuan, 54
Independent Non-Executive Director, Tomypak Holdings Bhd.
Ms. Rozana binti Redzuan is an Independent Non-Executive Director at Tomypak Holdings Bhd., an Independent Non-Executive Director at BSL Corp. Bhd., a Member at Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a Member at Malaysian Institute of Accountants. She is on the Board of Directors at Tomypak Holdings Bhd. and BSL Corp. Bhd. Ms. binti Redzuan was previously employed as an Independent Non-Executive Director by Mamee Double Decker (Malaysia) Bhd., an Independent Non-Executive Director by Perduren (M) Bhd., a Non-Executive Director by Karyon Industries Bhd., a Chief Executive Officer by Plantation & Development (Malaysia) Bhd., and an Accountant by Arthur Andersen & Co. /Malaysia/. She received her undergraduate degree from London Metropolitan University.
https://quotes.wsj.com/MY/XKLS/TOMYPAK/company-people/executive-profile/86340129
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PETALING JAYA: Former Election Commission (EC) chairman Abdul Aziz Yusof has denied any conflict of interest in the Automated Enforcement System (AES) issue.
This comes after the company in which he is a majority shareholder, Commercial Circle (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, was named as one of the two shareholders of Ates Sdn Bhd.
Ates is one of two companies operating the AES, which Transport Minister Anthony Loke said yesterday made RM129 million over six years after being introduced in 2012. The other company operating the AES is Beta Tegap.
The shareholders for Ates are Commercial Circle and Traffen Force Sdn Bhd. It is understood that Commercial Circle owns 40% of shares in Ates, with Traffen Force owning the rest.
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21 August 2018
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AES probe: MACC to look into agreement signed by previous BN govt
Posted on 20 August 2018 – 05:51pm
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will look into the agreement between the previous federal government and the two concessionaire companies of Automated Enforcement System (AES).
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Seri Azam Baki yesterday said yesterday that he has instructed his officers to look into the matter following the revelation by the Ministry of Transport on Friday.
“Although no official report was lodged on the matter, this involves public funds. In this case, it is the LTAT,” he told theSun.
“It is within our purview to examine the matter as we are responsible in safeguarding any entity owned by the government and involving public funds.
“If it is found there are elements of power abuse or corruption, we will conduct a full-scale investigation. Our team of investigators will start looking into it on Monday.”
Azam said the MACC would meet other agencies such as the Road Transport Department (RTD) to gather more information on the matter.
He said the findings of the probe would be handed over to the relevant agencies if there were no grounds for the MACC to pursue the matter further or if the matter is beyond its jurisdiction.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/08/20/aes-probe-macc-look-agreement-signed-previous-bn-govt
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KUALA LUMPUR: The police have recorded Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement over the alleged missing RM19.25 billion from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Refund Trust Account which affected 121,429 companies and individuals.
In a statement today, Lim said under the GST Act 2014, input tax refunds should be made within two weeks but a huge number of companies and individuals did not receive the refunds from as far back as 2015.
“A huge number of the 121,429 companies and individuals affected by this scandal are now wondering why RM19.4 billion in the GST Refunds Trust Account was not returned to them within two weeks as required by law, whether from the years as far back as 2015, 2016, 2017 or 2018,” he said.
Lim said the government faced a shortfall of RM19.25 billion as there was only RM148.6 million in the GST Refunds Trust account instead of RM19.4 billion.
Guan Eng lodges police report on missing RM19.25 bln refunds
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20 August 2018
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PUTRAJAYA, Aug 20 — Two former transport ministers from MCA signed agreements that forced the government to compensate private firms operating the Automated Enforcement System (AES) regardless of fines collected, Anthony Loke said today.
Referring specifically to Tan Sri Kong Cho Ha and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Loke also said law enforcement functions should not involve private companies.
“The AES agreement is a lopsided one because the federal government had to pay these concessionaires whether summons are collected or not,” he told a news conference.
“Only fools would sign such an agreement. To MCA leaders, use your brain before speaking next time,” he said, referring to statements issued by MCA leaders on condemning Putrajaya’s move to halt the AES and cancel fines totalling RM435 million.
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19 August 2018
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 19): The National Patriots Association (Patriot) is calling for a full investigation into what it termed the “shocking” revelation that the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) has paid RM555 million to take over the assets of two companies, which comprise mainly of 40 Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras.
“The MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and the police commercial crime division must immediately spring to action and not wait for reports. Patriot demands to know who the corporate owners of the two AES concessionaire are, namely ATES and Beta Tegap,” Patriot president Brig Gen (rtd) Mohd Arshad Raji said in a statement today, referring to ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd.
“Why did the managing director and the board of directors of LTAT allow the RM555 million to be taken from the fund?” Mohd Arshad asked.|
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To Mohd Arshad, when funds of the LTAT — which he highlighted was set up primarily to take care of the welfare and manages retirement benefits for servicemen — is used in such a manner, it is tantamount to “criminal breach of trust”. “Even if the MD and BoDs were taking instruction from the head of government, such conduct was dishonourable, unacceptable and a betrayal of trust,” Mohd Arshad said.
Under the command structure of security forces, he said top leaders or commanders take good care of the welfare of their men and protect their safety. In return, those under their command are willing to risk their lives in dangerous missions. As LTAT is closely related to the military and under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defence, he said LTAT’s corporate leaders should abide by the norms of military establishments.
“LTAT also owns 59.4% of Boustead Holdings Bhd, [which] in turn owns 57.4% of Boustead Plantation Bhd, 20.7% of Affin Bank Bhd, 56.1% of Pharmaniaga Bhd, 65.0% of Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd, and a string of other companies…Patriot strongly requests LTAT uses its authority and ownership of its vast business empire to seriously take care of the welfare of service personnel and veterans, such as providing employment opportunities, on-the-job training for those in resettlement course, and scholarships for their children,” he said.
“LTAT must not only be doing those as suggested, but must be continuously seen to be doing them by the men and women of the armed forces. It is the least LTAT could do,” he added.
http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/patriots-calls-probe-ltats-rm555m-aes-takeover
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https://twitter.com/MalaysianAlways/status/1031096377261010945
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Loke said that the government decided to take over the system as the concession agreement between the previous government and the two companies that operated the AES – ATES and Beta Tegap – appeared “lopsided”.
“In the agreement, RM16 is paid to the two companies for every AES summons issued. Furthermore, 50 per cent of the summons payments is given to them as well,” The Edge Markets reported Loke as saying.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-cancels-traffic-summons-aes-system-loke-10627192
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AES valuation tiff – Business News | The Star Online
PressReader – The Star Malaysia – StarBiz: 2014-02-04 – AES …
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18 August 2018
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Malaysia cancels RM435m worth of AES traffic summons
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia announced on Friday (Aug 17) that it will cancel about RM435 million (US$105.9 million) worth of traffic summons issued under its Automated Enforcement System (AES), in what Transport Minister Anthony Loke said was a one-off exercise.
In addition, no new summons will be issued until Sep 1.
This is because the government has decided not to renew the contracts of the two companies operating the traffic camera system.
From Sep 1, all AES operations will be managed by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department.
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Loke said that the government decided to take over the system as the concession agreement between the previous government and the two companies that operated the AES – ATES and Beta Tegap – appeared “lopsided”.
“In the agreement, RM16 is paid to the two companies for every AES summons issued. Furthermore, 50 per cent of the summons payments is given to them as well,” The Edge Markets reported Loke as saying.
AES summonses were initially set at RM300 per summon but this was later halved to RM150 by the Cabinet, and this sum then went entirely to the concession operators, the report added.
Even if all the outstanding fines were to be collected, this would not be considered government revenue but would go to the two companies instead, he said.
“We have to remember that, after this (the government’s taking over of AES operations), all summons payments will go into the government’s account compared to previously when the concessionaire was operating it,” he said.
GOVERNMENT TO REFUND ARMED FORCES FUND BOARD
After the “lopsided” concessions fuelled public backlash, Loke said the then-Barisan Nasional government bought over the AES assets from the two firms in 2015, at a cost of RM555 million.
The money was taken from the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT), which manages retirement benefits for servicemen.
However this did not involve “taking over a large number of assets”, but only 40 AES cameras, said the minister. He added that the new government will refund the RM555 million to LTAT in phases.
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-cancels-traffic-summons-aes-system-loke-10627192
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The StarVerified account @staronline
Saturday, 18 Aug 2018
RM500mil compensation for three-month AES suspension
PETALING JAYA: The Automated Enforcement System (AES), which was implemented six years ago, never really took off and only a handful of traffic offenders actually paid the fine.
The AES has been embroiled with controversy from the day it started in Sept 2012.
The then opposition Pakatan Rakyat had protested against the system.
A Road Transport Department (RTD) official told The Star the system was suspended three months after it was introduced then at the directive of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for “technical” reasons.
It was reintroduced again in November 2016.
When the system was halted, the government had to compensate Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd and ATES Sdn Bhd, which were given concessions to put up, manage and maintain the first 14 AES nationwide.
The two companies were said to have received RM500mil as part of a government settlement for the suspension.
The official said Irat Properties Sdn Bhd – 50% owned by Boustead Holdings Bhd and 50% between Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera and Irat Holdings Sdn Bhd – bought Beta Tegap and ATES for an undisclosed sum in 2015.
Beta Tegap and ATES became part of Irat Properties subsidiaries and continued to operate the AES as both the firms had the technical expertise and knowledge to operate, manage and maintain the system, he said.
“The two companies continued to process the photographs taken on the AES and submitted the details of the traffic offenders to Road Transport Department when it was reintroduced.”
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31 March 2017
TheMalaysianReserve @TMReserve
Boustead Holdings Bhd has moved closer towards obtaining the Automated Enforcement System (AES) concession through a RM199 million purchase of 50% of Irat Properties Sdn Bhd, which is in the middle of acquiring the controversial traffic offender monitoring system from its previous owners.
Boustead group MD Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin said the acquisition would also result in the company gaining ownership of the Chulan Tower Office Block and The Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel, which have a combined value of RM508 million.
The proposed acquisition involved a purchase of 60 million new shares worth RM128 million and an additional 33.3 million new shares at the issue price of RM2.13 per share for RM71 million, said Boustead.
Yesterday, Irat Properties’ purchasing agreement for one of the two AES operators, ATES Sdn Bhd, became unconditional. The acquisition of the other operator, Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, is still pending, it said.
The AES will be jointly managed by Boustead and its controlling shareholder Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, which along with Irat Holdings Bhd, currently owns 50% of Irat Properties.
“We expect our entry into the automated enforcement segment to prove beneficial to the group in the long term,” said Lodin.
https://themalaysianreserve.com/2017/03/31/boustead-acquires-50-of-future-aes-owner/
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weehingthong 
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