PM claims success on reforms since near-loss in 2013 election

Ben Sokhean | Publication date 27 December 2017 | 16:25 ICT

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Prime Minister Hun Sen gives a speech to workers in Phnom Penh’s Porsenchey district this morning in which he touted his reform record since the 2013 national elections. Facebook

Prime Minister Hun Sen touted his reform record in a speech today, saying the government would push for the implementation of all announced reforms before the expiration of their mandate in 2018.

During a speech delivered to more than 14,000 workers from 15 separate factories in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district along National Road 3, the premier said he was “very proud” of achievements in the garment and agriculture sectors, as well as reduction of poverty.

“It is our duty that we need to continue stronger with the finalisation of the fifth [National] Assembly mandate, because the Royal Government was created in 2013 and will finish in 2018,” Hun Sen said. “It is our last effort to finish our ambition that we already launched early in the mandate regarding reforms, regarding any other issues.”

Chastened by his party's near loss in the 2013 national elections, the prime minister announced a series of political reforms that September. The 2014-2018 reform plans included tackling corruption, increasing public servants’ wages and reforming the education sector.

One of the most notable changes is the increase in wages in the garment sector, the prime minister said, which saw a raise from $80 in 2013 to $170 at the beginning of 2018.

Prime Minister Hun Sen appears in a selfie after delivering a speech to workers in Phnom Penh this morning. Facebook

Over the same period, however, Hun Sen's government has also made a number of unpopular and controversial decisions in the name of "reform". It passed a trio of judicial laws criticised for placing the courts under the control of the executive branch, a union law blamed for largely silencing Cambodia's once-robust labour rights movement, an NGO law that has been used to stifle critical voices and amendments to political party and election laws that crippled the nation's only viable opposition party, which was dissolved shortly thereafter.

San Chey, country director of NGO Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, said that despite some successful reforms, many key issues remained. For example, he said corruption, deforestation and land disputes were still major areas that had not been sufficiently tackled.

Reform, he said, “needs more time and political will and willingness to implement”.

“If we look generally, there are a lot of things that need to be reformed,” he said.

Updates to follow.