Kedah hopes to suspend the installation of Automatic Enforcement System (AES) for traffic offences within the state so as to study the matter further before it is implemented.

The Kedah executive councillor in charge of local government, Phahrolrazi Zawawi, said the decision to push for the suspension of the AES programme was made during the state PAS meeting held yesterday.

NONEPhahrolrazi (left) said the matter would be raised during next Wednesday's state executive council meeting for an official decision.

"We (PAS) have agreed to defer the AES installation in Kedah during the party's meeting. 

"The local councils have the authority to set (the system) up. Thus, we will ask the local councils to postpone it. 

"This decision will be brought to next Wednesday's state exco meeting," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Kedah is the second PAS-held Pakatan Rakyat state to mull suspending the AES installation after Kelantan, while DAP-led Penang has confirmed its move to do so.

Kedah's decision will add a further blow to the Transport Ministry, with the minister Kong Chong Ha yesterday expressing his furyover Penang's decision.

RTD, installers to be asked to give briefing

Phahrolrazi said the Road Transport Department (RTD) and related organisations would also be called up to present a briefing on the AES to the Kedah executive council.

He explained that the briefing would be to provide a better understanding to the exco members about the procedures and the installation of the cameras.

"We also intend to contact RTD and the company that will be performing the installation to explain the process, legislation and so on, about the system," Phahrolrazi added.

Earlier this month, RTD proposed the installation of 831 AES cameras throughout the nation, in stages within the course of 18 months, as as a move for better traffic safety. 

The AES has received a lot of flak, especially over the deal being given to two companies, ATES Sdn Bhd and Beta Tegap Sdn Bhd, which are alleged to be owned by "cronies" of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

The system has even caused pro-government groups, such as Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), to criticise the AES venture as "profit-oriented rather than people-centred".