What does the future hold?
Officials, business professionals and political analysts have mixed opinions on the leadership of the single-party Cambodian government and what the future hold for the next five years. Sok Touch, a professor of political science at Khemarak University, said the political deadlock won’t help the nation become prosperous within the next five years and beyond. He said he can’t predict the future of Cambodia while the political situation remains unclear and nothing seems to be going smoothly, with one party overly arrogant and the other rather impotent. “You see, the government is like a mushroom with a big head, and in the meantime the opposition has no influence at all,” Touch said. He said the new government has not been recognised by many democratic bodies like the US, the EU and others, and that is “serious challenge” for the new government. Prime Minister Hun Sen was appointed by the National Assembly on September 24. The premier spent six hours on September 25 reading the government’s third-phase strategy and promised to bring in reforms, while the CNRP members of parliament led by Sam Rainsy and deputy president Kem Sokha attended a Buddhist ceremony in Siem Reap province. ... Newly appointed Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Choun Naron told the Post that as a new minister he is sure Cambodia will shine under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Sen. He said the education system will be fixed and more youth will get jobs, and a better education system will help improve the economy. “We are going to hold discussions among our ministerial officials to come up with a plan to tackle problems like corruption during exams and even salaries for teachers,” Choun Naron said. Tourism Minister Thong Khon said that over the next five years he will make Cambodia a green and clean attractive tourist destination, as well as promoting cultural and eco-tourism. ... He [ Cambodian Chamber of Commerce director-general Nguon Meng Tech] added that the deadlock won’t stop new investors coming into Cambodia – they are merely on the sidelines with plenty of investment capital as they wait to see how the dust settles. He said that in order to make the situation favourable for investors, the CNRP should be ready to speak out on anything they want to change at the National Assembly. ... Ho Vandy, the co-chair of a private tourism sector group, said the political environment is a major obstacle in the tourism sector right now. “This is a matter that everyone has to raise questions about. What do we all actually want? Politicians have to come together to forge a deal that is a win-win solution” he said. ...
Kay Kimsong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/analysis-and-op-ed/what-does-future-hold
