Government
National government
Central shared switch due to launch in July
The central bank hopes to launch its central shared switch mechanism next month after a trial run that has already connected the account records of three of the Kingdom’s leading financial institutions, allowing them to operate ATM and point-of-sale (POS) terminals in tandem, according to ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/central-shared-switch-due-launch-july
Cassava prices hit a new low
Cassava prices in Cambodia experienced a sharp drop this month leading to heavy losses for smallholder farmers unable to quickly switch to more profitable crops and recoup their mounting losses, a provincial agriculture official said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cassava-prices-hit-new-low
NBC, South Korea team up for research
The central banks of Cambodia and South Korea signed an agreement on Friday to jointly conduct research and analyse the relationship between exchange rates and inflation in the Cambodian economy, according to bank officials. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nbc-south-korea-team-research
Sar Kheng says official held in Thailand avoided checkpoint, vows arms probe
Interior Minister Sar Kheng has vowed an investigation into an alleged arms trafficking operation linked to a Cambodian official, saying information from suspects indicated the guns were smuggled via a “corridor” in Cambodia’s Koh Kong province into Thailand and did not pass through the international ...
Mech Dara and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sar-kheng-says-official-held-thailand-avoided-checkpoint-vows-arms-probe
New rules for digital payments
The central bank has issued new regulations governing the licensing of payment services providers (PSPs), requiring that all firms providing online services to accept electronic payments have at least $2 million in registered capital, a move expected to increase the stability of the sector and ...
Hor Kimsay and Matthieu de Gaudemar
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/new-rules-digital-payments
Ministry to examine passport fees for Malaysia migrants
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will investigate exorbitant passport fees for migrant workers in Malaysia, the ministry’s spokesman said late last week, following an investigation by The Post that found Cambodians in the country were forced to pay up to $800 for renewals. ...
Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-examine-passport-fees-malaysia-migrants
Government probes NGO behind damning timber racket report
More than a month after confirming its investigation into new reports of rampant timber trafficking between Cambodia and Vietnam, the Environment Ministry remains tight-lipped about what—if any—progress it is making, but says the U.K. NGO that exposed the scale of the problem is itself being ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-probes-ngo-behind-damning-timber-racket-report-131662/
National Bank revokes licence of Dubai firm
The National Bank of Cambodia yesterday revoked the licence of Dubai-based Royal Index Pte., an affiliate of Royal Index UAE, after it failed to fulfill its mandatory obligations as a derivatives trading firm operating in the kingdom. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39454/national-bank-revokes-licence-of-dubai-firm/
Assembly criticised over MPs’ immunity
During an otherwise routine National Assembly session to make amendments to the Senate Election Law, opposition lawmaker Son Chhay yesterday took the opportunity to criticise the assembly for not adhering to immunity laws after the arrests and convictions of lawmakers Um Sam An and Senator ...
Touch Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/assembly-criticised-over-mps-immunity
Proposal to teach Hun Sen’s life story in schools seen as hagiography by some
Students at schools in Cambodia will learn about the life, achievements and leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen under a proposal by the Defence Ministry to change the nation’s curriculum and introduce the ruling party’s fiercely contested historical narrative into textbooks. ...
Mech Dara and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/proposal-teach-hun-sens-life-story-schools-seen-hagiography-some
Government vows to tighten control over Kingdom’s pawnbrokers
The government is preparing legislation aimed at ensuring tighter control over the nation’s pawnshops to ensure professionalism in a sector that has grown rapidly and lacks a supervisory framework. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-vows-tighten-control-over-kingdoms-pawnbrokers
Government approves 56 additional generals
The government has approved a new round of mass military promotions, elevating 40 officers to the rank of brigadier general and 16 people to major general status. ...
Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-approves-56-additional-generals
Minimum wage talks to begin in July
Labour Minister Ith Sam Heng announced yesterday that this year’s round of garment sector minimum wage negotiations would begin in July, with unionists cautiously optimistic that next year’s national elections could benefit their cause despite calls from Sam Heng not to “politicise” the process. ...
Soth Koemsoeun and Martin de Bourmont
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minimum-wage-talks-begin-july
Man held by Thais linked to senior Cambodian officials
Cambodian immigration officer Leang Piseth, who is detained in Thailand on suspicion of smuggling weapons, is a relative by marriage of Defence Minister Tea Banh, as well as of recently reassigned Koh Kong Provincial Governor Bun Leut and retired high-ranking Police General Tham Sann, The ...
Shaun Turton and Mech Dara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/man-held-thais-linked-senior-cambodian-officials
Ruling party scraps policy to promote failed candidates gov’t advisory roles
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party has canceled plans for failed local election candidates to be appointed to advisory positions in the government. ...
Kann Vicheika
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/ruling-party-scraps-policy-to-promote-failed-candidates-govt-advisory-roles/3898575.html
White Building locals get Ministry send-off
The Land Management Ministry hosted a farewell party for residents of Phnom Penh’s iconic but crumbling White Building Saturday, serving up large quantities of noodles and bringing in Buddhist monks to bless the residents before they move. ...
Kong Meta
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/white-building-locals-get-ministry-send
Environment code due this year
Cambodia plans to have an ambitious environmental code adopted by the end of this year, according to a legal adviser with the law firm helping to write the legislation, though conservationists yesterday remained wary about how it would be implemented. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/environment-code-due-year
Consumer protection law still in draft stage
The Ministry of Commerce and other relevant ministries will meet later this month to review progress on the country’s first consumer protection law and formulate a plan to complete the draft legislation, a ministry official said yesterday. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/consumer-protection-law-still-draft-stage
Minister scolds Thai outlets
Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence has demanded an apology from Thai media outlets for reports linking Defence Minister Tea Banh to a recent case of alleged cross-border arms smuggling by a Thai air force officer, one which has also ensnared an official from Cambodia’s Interior Ministry ...
Niem Chheng and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minister-scolds-thai-outlets
2011 ban on maids working in Malaysia lifted months ago
The government lifted a 2011 ban on sending Cambodian maids to Malaysia in January, according to a directive Prime Minister Hun Sen signed late last year, contradicting months of government denials. ...
Zsombor Peter and Phan Soumy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/2011-ban-maids-working-malaysia-lifted-months-ago-131127/
Government spokesman admits to NGO scare
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak’s pre-election warning that some NGOs and their leaders were being watched for illegally aiding the opposition was a threat designed to frighten them, General Sopheak said on Wednesday, as civil society groups warily condemned the statements. ...
Aun Pheap and Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-spokesman-admits-to-ngo-scare-131115/
Government approves agencies to send workers abroad
The Labour Ministry has announced the names of 77 private recruitment agencies approved to select, train and send Cambodian workers to Thailand, Malaysia and Japan. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39112/government-approves-agencies-to-send-workers-abroad/
Central bank to carry out on-site MFI audits
Cambodia’s central bank is to conduct on-site audits of microfinance institutions to check if they are complying with the interest rate cap that came into force more than two months ago, industry insiders have said. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39098/central-bank-to-carry-out-on-site-mfi-audits/
Sar Kheng downs offer of inclusion into CNRP
A remark by an opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) senior adviser that Minister of Interior Sar Kheng would remain deputy prime minister if the opposition party won the 2018 national elections drew a terse response from the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), with the minister ...
Leonie Kijewski and Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sar-kheng-downs-offer-inclusion-cnrp