2020 Annual Awards
The year 2020 may see the unusual become usual and the extraordinary turn ordinary. Yet, Covid-19 has not deterred some lucky few from their well-deserved Pseng-Pseng Annual Awards.
Money Spinner Award – NagaWorld (Naga Corp Ltd)
Now, Hun Sen throws in another cash cow to the NagaWorld pot. It is to build modern entertainment centre and hotel concrete jungles only 500 metres from Angkor Wat park ground. Expect this sacred icon to become a part of the theme park like a Disneyland development. Never mind that the Naga concretes will destroy serendipity, serenity, and aesthetic of the Angkor awe.
Yet, there is no free lunch. Grand benefactor Hun Sen must earn a chunk of cash under the table from these money printing permits. He cannot be as stupid as his opponents say he is.
Super Tax Collector Award – Kong Vibol
Director-General of Tax Department Kong Vibol claims 2020 tax revenue will be about 1% higher than that of the previous year’s collection. This means, in defiance of Covid trade restrictions and havoc, there are more taxpayers in 2020, or the same or smaller number of taxpayers together pay more tax. How impressive… if the 2020 tax collection were true.
The tourism sector that contributes 32.7% to the 2019 GDP claims there is no cashflow to pay for their tax liabilities this year. The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents President Chhay Sivlin is now asking for a cancellation of all outstanding tax liabilities for the sector. Unless she is a whinger-for-nothing type, the plea makes the super tax collector a liar. The Covid-19 may also send the garment industry that contributes about 16% to the GDP into a similar predicament.
Double-Talk Award – Premier Hun Sen
Hun Sen says his government has kept under control what he refers to as the 28 November Community Outbreak Incident. Covid-19 has sent CPP high-profilers into quarantine in droves.
But he says he cannot yet close the case due to the following five reasons. First, health officials do not know all locations the infected have been 14 days before the outbreak. Second, many potential infected have not come forward to report on their contacts or for testing for fear of being placed under quarantine. Third, those who are in contact with the infected have not complied with the testing regime. Fourth, it is unclear if those under the quarantine have undertaken a required number of tests to verify they are negative. Fifth, the health officials are uncertain about the number of those who have come to contact with the infected in regional and provincial areas.
Thus, if there are still so many unknown and uncertainty according to his statement, how can Hun Sen conclude that he has the Covid spread under control? His double-talk is almost an art form.
Enjoy 2021, anyhow. The Huns and their mob will.
Ung Bun Ang
27xii20
Honourable Mention
Copycat – Sam Rainsy
Well, it is said if you cannot beat them, join them. After years of concealing frustrations, Sam Rainsy is coming out with guns blazing. The unrefined language he recently uses again and again to deride Hun Sen and the King may make Hun Sen, who is a master of brutish language proud; they say imitation is the best form of flattery, is it not?
Then again, it may also stuff up Mu Sochua’s plan to return to Cambodia on 4 January, unless it is all along meant to be a mere political posturing for point scoring.
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Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com
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