Budget leaves $1.5b unassigned
Transparency watchdogs have warned that $1.5 billion of unallocated funds in next year’s budget will only encourage nepotism and embezzlement.
The Draft Budget Law was approved at the National Assembly on Tuesday in a unanimous vote of 66 ruling Cambodian People’s Party MPs. …
The $3.4 billion spending bill included about $1.5 billion in “unallocated” money, which amounts to more than 44 per cent of the total budget.
“This is a huge amount and a concern for us,” said Chhith Sam Ath, director of Cambodia’s NGO Forum, which works with the US-based International Budget Partnership (IBP) to advocate for greater fiscal transparency. …
Cheam Yeap, a senior CPP lawmaker, said the $1.5 billion had not been allocated because reserve money could be needed for natural disasters or if conflict broke out with Thailand. …
Daniel Pye and Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/budget-leaves-15b-unassigned
