Cambodia Morning News for December 21

Cambodian opposition activists summoned by police, pressured to defect
Following a recent pledge by opposition leader Rainsy to return next year to Cambodia, police in Kandal province have questioned local Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) activists concerning their possible support for the party’s acting president in the event he comes back, Cambodian sources say.
— Radio Free Asia

Union implores ILO to help jailed news fixer
The president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions yesterday asked the International Labour Organisation to intervene in the case of Rath Rott Mony, a news fixer who was charged over his role in the production of a controversial sex trafficking documentary.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia prime minister’s son tapped for powerful party committee
The eldest son of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was promoted on Thursday (Dec 20) to the ruling party’s permanent committee, an official said, as questions swirl over who might succeed the strongman.
— Channel News Asia

Sam Rainsy ‘faces isolation’ when law change comes into force
A senior ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) official on Wednesday warned of opposition leader Sam Rainsy’s impending “isolation” when the amendment to Article 45 of the Law on Political Parties comes into effect.
— Phnom Penh Post

Airport annex may displace villagers
Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Yun Min has informed 62 families living in the vicinity of the province’s Kang Keng airport about a potential relocation as the government plans to expand it.
— Phnom Penh Post

Riverbank fails a concern
In response to the latest riverbank collapse in Kandal province’s Mok Kampoul district on December 13, the most recent of a spate across the Kingdom, authorities have moved to prevent more from occurring.
— Phnom Penh Post

Despite ‘sharp’ decrease in child labor in Cambodia, risks still abound
While child labor in Cambodia’s garment factories have “reduced sharply,” according to a report by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) last week, human-rights activists warn that many subcontractors that use children continue to evade detection.
— sourcingjournal.com

GMAC calls on union leaders to respect law
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC) released a statement on Tuesday asking union leaders to halt protests and comply with the incoming law on seniority indemnity back pay.
— Phnom Penh Post

Pharmacovigilance capacity built among public health officials
Ministry of Health has organised a training workshop on pharmacovigilance for public health officials in order to further strengthen drug quality management for healthy Cambodian.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

Ruling Party releases the outcomes of its Central Committee’s 41st Convention
The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) released this evening an announcement on the outcomes of the 41st Convention of the fifth-term Central Committee held at Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre, Phnom Penh, from Dec. 18 to 20.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

Answering the call from ‘home’
The murderous rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1978 had forced millions to evacuate the Kingdom, in pursuit of better lives. More than four decades after, the Cambodian diaspora is now scattered across the globe with a majority choosing the US, France, Australia and Canada as their new homes.
— The Khmer Times

US steps up Southeast Asian refugee deportation operations
Three dozen Cambodians – the largest group of Southeast Asian refugees to be deported from the United States in a single batch – arrived in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.
— Asia Times

As decision deadline looms, farmers fearful of EU tariffs
It is the beginning of the harvest season, and a rice farmer in Takeo province walks to his field, located just behind his house, ready to inspect the rented machinery he will use to collect the crop.
— Khmer Times

Kingdom wants more China energy investment
At the China-ASEAN Expo this September in Nanning, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, the event’s “Country of Honour”, regaled the participants with tales of how it was the 11th time he had led a delegation to the expo.
— Phnom Penh Post

Digital technology essential for economic growth, says World Bank
Cambodia’s economic growth in recent years has been rapid, with the Kingdom benefitting from preferential trade treatment and an abundance of low-skilled labour.
— Cambodia Daily

Construction Project of Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway To Expense Some US$ 3,800 Million
The construction project of Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway will expense about US$ 3,800 million after its feasibility study has just completed by Japan International Cooperation Center (JICA).
— Agence Kampuchea Press

DaraPay and Sandara Group team up
Mobile payment app DaraPay and retail boutique chain Sandara Group are partnering so customers can use the payment system at the group’s Pandora Exchange Square store.
— Khmer Times

Feasibility study on new expressway completed
A feasibility study on the construction of the Phnom Penh-Bavet Expressway, which will cost about $3.8 billion and play a key role towards connectivity with Vietnam, has been completed.
— The Khmer Times

Tourism minister calls for more flights from Vietnam
Tourism minister Thong Khon on Wednesday called upon Vietnam Airlines (VN) to increase their flight frequency to Cambodia, particularly to Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and the coastal areas, in response to a big jump in demand.
— The Khmer Times

Smart rides the waves of data power
Smart Axiata has a lot to be proud of. Apart from being the mobile market leader with a large market share, it is resilient to weather challenges from various divides.
— The Khmer Times

BRI can drive SDGs in Cambodia
Dr Cheng Cheng, chief economist for Made in Africa Initiative, and Dr Sothea Oum, an independent consultant, said if managed properly, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) can potentially contribute to Cambodia’s sustainable development goals (SDG).
— The Khmer Times

A year on, no takers in Vietnam cashew deal
The Agriculture Ministry yesterday said Cambodia is still waiting for Vietnamese companies to invest in Cambodia’s cashew, after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed almost a year ago.
— The Khmer Times

Electricity fee for market retailors to be less
The Royal Government of Cambodia is looking into reducing electricity fee for retailors at markets across Cambodia.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

Cellcard first to launch eSIM
Today Cellcard revealed its plan to launch an eSIM service with a major Chinese technology partner before the end of the year.
— Khmer Times

Electricity subsidy to boost manufacturing
Cambodia’s upcoming cut in electricity costs will likely lower manufacturing and operation costs for the export-reliant nation, delivering a boost to the business sector while potentially attracting more foreign investment, top executives said.
— Khmer Times

Property firms turn to apps in proactive digital moves
Property firms are joining in the digital transformation by expanding their investment in developing their own technologies to meet the demands of the customers of their residential projects.
— Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s Real Estate and Construction Sector Attracting More Foreign Investors
Cambodia’s real estate and construction sector continues to attract foreign investments, particularly from China, according to local media report.
— Agence Kampuchea Press

Etiqa to expand to Cambodia in 2019
Etiqa, the insurance arm of Malaysia’s largest banking group Maybank, could expand to Cambodia next year if it obtains regulatory approval.
— Asia Insurance Review (paywall)

Cambodian Securities Exchange eyes potential financial institutions
The Cambodia Security Exchange (CSX) held a workshop on Tuesday seeking to attract more financial institutions into the country’s burgeoning stock market.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Star Clippers adds new port calls in Asia, Europe and Cambodia for 2020
New port calls for Star Clippers in Europe for summer 2020 include Stintino in Sardinia, Propriano in Corsica, Vis, Krk and Zadar in Croatia, while in South East Asia, new itineraries include Cambodia for the first time, while varying many of the other calls in the Thai, Malay and Indonesian archipelagos.
— www.seatrade-cruise.com

Owner plans to reopen Akira Museum
Oeun Yeak, owner of the Cambodian Landmine Museum commonly known as the Akira Museum, yesterday said he is planning to reopen its doors to the public next week.
— Khmer Times

Traditional Khmer kite flying festival returns in Svay Rieng
Now Cambodia has entered December, the coldest month of the year. The cool and windy weather is the perfect time for flying kites, an ancient Khmer tradition that many in the Kingdom are striving to keep alive.
— Phnom Penh Post

Banbury head teacher impressed by remote villages’ passion for education during Cambodia trip
Tracey Wilson spent over a week with the Independent Schools Association to see the work being done by United World Schools in some of the poorest areas of the country.
— The Banbury Guardian

Five of the best MMA fighters from Cambodia
As we continue to run through our series of top five stars from countries throughout Southeast Asia, it’s important to keep things in perspective.
— Cambodia Daily

Feature photo Eng Kok-Thay / DC-Cam

This week’s Cambodia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Human Solidarity Day, December 20.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Cambodia morning news for December 21 added by Mark Roy on December 21, 2018
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Mark Roy

With a decade of experience as an editor and journalist, Roy has edited mastheads across Australia and Southeast Asia, from the remote island communities of the Torres Strait to Cambodia’s only award-winning newspaper, The Phnom Penh Post.

A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.