Commerce claims that donations not political

20 October 2014
Anti-corruption / Government / Ministries and other national bodies / Ministry of Commerce
Cambodia National Rescue Party / Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia / GMAC / Ken Ratha / Ministry of Commerce / Pech Pisey / Son Chhay / Transparency International in Cambodia

The Ministry of Commerce has defended its solicitation of donations from private organisations as voluntary, legal and a form of corporate social responsibility. The ministry’s response comes after Post Weekend revealed on Saturday, through leaked documents, that the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) made a cash contribution to the government totaling $5,000 and has been paying membership fees for senior government officials at an exclusive country club. … In an open letter posted on the MoC Facebook page yesterday, Ken Ratha, spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said that GMAC’s payment to the government was part of a corporate social responsibility fund, and went exclusively towards assisting troops serving along the Thai border in Preah Vihear. …

 Eddie Morton
http://phnompenhpost.com/business/commerce-claims-donations-not-political