Dear Dr Mahathir

“This [high-rise buildings] is a sign of prosperity. And I believe that this is due to your hard-working people… highly skilful people who have contributed towards rebuilding Phnom Penh and Cambodia,”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“But now it [Cambodia] has changed very much. What is lacking is facilities for education and training."

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“Today, Syria is almost wiped out. Iraq is in a bad state and Yemen is fighting. That is the effect of regime change on countries not ready for democracy.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“So one has to be very careful… My advice to young people the world over is to really know the people they choose. They must be as sure as possible to choose the right people to lead their countries.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“They say when elephants fight, the grass gets trampled – so we may be trampled. Not only Cambodia, but Malaysia too. So, in order to avoid being trampled down by fighting elephants, we [Asean members] should come together so we can strengthen ourselves.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“Once you are indebted to other countries, you are no longer independent. So value your independence. Even if your national development is slowed down, it is worthwhile because you don’t want to again be colonised by others – not directly, but indirectly through their influence over your economy.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“So why are you not proud of your own culture? Your own ways of living, of thinking? Today, because of easy communication, you can see what is happening in other countries. Sometimes you copy them, which is okay if the things are good. I think the systems of government and democracy, for example, are very good – we should copy that.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 3 September 2019, Khmer Times

“We have a number of Cambodians working in Malaysia and we need to look after them, their healthcare, and well-being so that they will have full benefits from the work they do in Malaysia.”

Malaysia PM Mahathir Mohamad, 4 September 2019, Khmer Times

If your statements in Cambodia reported by local media are accurate, i.e, they come straight from the horse’s mouth, not from another hole at the opposite end, you are a real seasoned politician. However, your lavish compliments for Hun Sen’s high-rise buildings may cloud his understanding of your other not-so-subtle messages.

You must know the praise that massages your host’s ego does not reflect integrity of those buildings. At least 14 buildings in Sihanoukville are on order to be demolished, other 70 are being examined for defects, after a building collapse that kills 28 and injures 26 people. If they are highly skilled as you remark, they must be sloppy to pass such low-quality work. No wonder you mention later that Cambodia lacks facilities for education and training.

Hun Sen may miss your message for a regime change in Cambodia. You say the fighting in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen is because they are not democracy ready. Your subtle message to Cambodians is that since Hun Sen always claims his regime is democratic, Cambodia is now due for a regime change.

You advise Cambodian youth to choose their leaders carefully, which is wise. There are always risks associated with new untested leaders, and often it is difficult to evaluate their long-term leadership effectiveness, as experienced in Malaysia. Nevertheless, the youth can assess their current leader’s performance; the longer Hun Sen stays in power the more clearly the youth can see how he damages Cambodia and creates nuisance for the Asean bloc.

You are right that superpowers look after their own interest. You say to avoid being trampled by fighting elephants, Asean member states ought to band together. Hun Sen is unlikely to take this advice; he is curling up between hind legs of one of those elephants, where he must feel safe.

Dismissing your concern on impacts of foreign debts, Hun Sen is adamant he can stop China from using its loans of about $6 billion to Cambodia to dictate his policies and actions. You must know China has already had virtually a free reign in Sihanoukville and Koh Kong. It is hence doubtful if your host heeds your request that all Asean nations remain “steadfast in defending their national integrity”.

It is interesting that you advise Cambodians to uphold their own culture; you must know they have not. They adapt rather well to foreign cultures. They turn the Valentine’s Day into the Loss of Virginity Day. They copy Vietnamese aesthetics and artistic designs for their New Year decors. Many schools and government offices are closed, or manned with skeleton staff, to rejoice Chinese/Vietnamese New Year.

Finally, you may have neither power nor influence over Hun Sen, but you certainly have the power to honour your commitment to humanly treat Cambodian maids working in Malaysia. You must know many of them suffer in silence. The number of their repatriations to Cambodia jumps from 34 in 2014 to 272 in 2016, besides dead ones. Will you keep your words and protect them?

Ung Bun Ang

12ix19

Funny News You Can Use

So, according to government spokesman Phay Siphan, Hun Sun’s brand of democracy is defined by the economic growth of about 7% p.a., infrastructure development throughout the country, and their participation in the UN peacekeeping forces – nothing much to do freedom and human rights of the people. Is he suggesting the West that has managed only 2% or 3% economic growth per annum for decades is not democratic, or is not as democratic as Cambodia?

Indeed, if he keeps on repeating the rubbish often enough, sooner or later he will believe in it. But the question is how often, or much longer, he must dish it out before others, including EU and US, buy this home-grown democratic mongrel.

«យើងបានបង្ហាញភ័ស្ដុតាងជាក់ស្ដែងឲ្យបុគ្គលទាំងនោះបានឃើញពីទំហំសេដ្ឋកិច្ចកំពុងរីកចម្រើនខ្លាំង ក្នុងរង្វង់៧ភាគរយក្នុង១ឆ្នាំ ព្រមទាំងបាននិងកំពុងកសាងហេដ្ឋារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធគ្រប់ទីកន្លែង និងបង្ហាញពីការចូលរួមសកម្មភាពការពារសន្ដិសុខពិភពលោក តាមរយៈ ការបញ្ជូនកងទ័ពមួកខៀវទៅធ្វើការជាមួយអង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិជាដើម។»

អ្នកនាំពាក្យរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ៦ កញ្ញា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

   

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Lessons from Hong Kong Rebellion

“It was you who taught us peaceful protests don't work.”

A Hong Kong rebellion graffiti, 2 September 2019, ABC Four Corners

In preparation for the 9/11 show-down in Cambodia, there are 11 lessons from the current Hong Kong rebellion Hun Sen’s nemesis may want to adopt.

1.      Frontliners are backed by a brigade of self-organised medics, scouts, firemen, and supply runners.

2.      Use of black t-shirts as uniform and apparatus for safety and ID protection

3.      Quick groups meetings

4.      Use of umbrellas to avoid photo detections

5.      Use of laser beams to distract police

6.      Barricades to block roads

7.      Many decisions are made through discussions and voting on the spot

8.      No target for the authority – deliberate decision not to have a central leader in the protest actions after all known leaders have all been arrested.

9.      Use of online forums and encrypt apps like Telegram to communicate and vote on ideas for tactics and target locations, and to post warnings on locations and actions of the police

10.  Underground popup shops to sell gas masks, goggles, helmets, and hard hats, sales of which are restricted by authority

11.  “Be water” tactics – they appear and disappear from locations to location – to confuse and overwhelm the police

Details of these are in a report by Sophie McNeill of ABC’s Four Corners, broadcast on 2 September 2019. Below is the link to the full report.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g4N6Oe3g2Q

or, https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/rebellion/11472262

Consider and learn.

Ung Bun Ang

4ix19

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Does Sam Rainsy Have It?

«ខ្ញុំ​នឹង​នាំ​ពលករ​ខ្មែរ​នៅ​ថៃ​ពីរ​លាន​នាក់​បង​ប្អូន នៅ​ម៉ាឡេស៊ី នៅ​កូរ៉េ នៅ​ជប៉ុន ​ដែល​ពួក​គាត់​បង្ខំចិត្ត​ទៅ​ស៊ី​ឈ្នួល​ធ្វើ​ការងារ​ស្រុក​គេ ទៅ​ផ្ទះ​យើង​វិញ​ទាំង​អស់​គ្នា ទៅ​យក​ផ្ទះ​យើង ទៅ​យក​ដីធ្លី​យើង​វិញ ទៅ​យក​ប្រទេស​យើង​វិញ ​កុំ​ឲ្យ ហ៊ុន សែន ប្លន់។»

ប្រធាន​ស្ដីទី​គណបក្ស​សង្គ្រោះ​ជាតិ សម រង្ស៊ី ​​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៩ ខែ​សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

«ក្រសួងការបរទេសទាំង២កំពុងតែរៀបចំការងារហ្នឹងហើយ [ទស្សនកិច្ចនៅប្រទេសវៀតណាម] ព្រោះសម្ដេចតេជោទើបសម្រេចកាលពីម្សិលមិញ (២០សីហា)។»

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុន សែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២២ សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Again and again since the 1993 elections has Hun Sen proved he has “it” – the killer instinct. He makes himself the second premier despite CPP losing the elections. He executes the 1997-armed clash to become the only premier. He has many socio-political activists persecuted and murdered.

Meanwhile, there has been no clear indication that long-standing opponent Sam Rainsy has it. He may yet to flex his killer instinct after all these decades, if he ever has one. Perhaps, 9 November (another 9/11?) – the date he chooses to return to Cambodia – is his opportunity to confirm he badly wants Hun Sen’s job. Indeed, stepping onto Cambodian soil on 9/11 requires the killer instinct.

It is very unlikely that Hun Sen will make the comeback a risk-free for Sam Rainsy considering their chronic animosity and what is at stake. The latter boasts he is going to bring with him two million Cambodians working abroad to take back their real estate properties Hun Sen has swindled. Though he may not end up with the number – his previous grandiose claims often are pure hot air – Hun Sen is still anxious because he must know many agree with Sam Rainsy that he has robbed the nation blind. His relaxed façade of composing poems ridiculing the return is just a faint cover for the anxiety exposed by intense crackdowns on CNRP supporters throughout the country.

According to a source within Hun Sen’s inner circle, there will be no negotiation with the opposition before the 9/11. Sam Rainsy will be disappointed if he expects it for a safe passage.

Nevertheless, the source claims there could be one if Sam Rainsy managed to bring with him a sizable people’s power that Hun Sen believes he could not squash. One of Hun Sen’s considerations is to use the king to initiate a peace negotiation. A leader without the killer instinct will bow to the apathetic king and negotiate. They would accept a compromise with an incurable delusion that they can later change Hun Sen.

With this tactical move, the source says, Hun Sen aims to use his opponent’s naivety and the royal illusive authority to remove any fangs of the people’s power, at least in the short run, to give any opposition a chance to do a Funcinpec hara-kiri. The Funcinpec leadership embraces corruption that brings them all: positions, wealth, plus an eventual demise. Founder King Sihanouk would turn over in his grave as they wreck his legacy.

However, for good measure, Hun Sen has yet again turned to Vietnam. After a recent meeting with its foreign minister, Hun Sen will make an impromptu visit to Vietnam soon under a pretext of luring Vietnamese investors to Cambodia. Nobody explains why the Vietnamese investments suddenly become so urgent, as if foreign investments have not done enough damages to local livelihood.

Anyhow, the question is: Will the CNRP acting president unveil a killer instinct to overcome Hun Sen’s 9/11 gauntlet and ability to manage the corruption temptation that has destroyed Funcinpec?

Ung Bun Ang

01ix19

Funny News You Can Use

A report that Cambodia rejects Vietnam’s request for an automatic naturalisation of illegal Vietnamese migrants in Cambodia makes many high-profile Cambodians proud of their national souvereignty. They forget to ask why Vietnam has the guts to make such a request at the first place, if Chheang Vun is not lying.

The irony is that in the same breath, Chheang Vun asks Vietnam to help curb timber smuggling from Cambodia to Vietnam. He does not say what the Vietnamese response is. Perhaps, they would give him a two-finger salute, rather than words.

Would Vietnam say yes after Cambodia’s rejection of the bulk naturalisation request?

Even without the rejection, it is in Vietnam’s best interest to keep the timber smuggling from Cambodia going full swing. Vietnamese news website Cong Thuong claims Vietnam’s export of timber and forest products during the first 6 months of this year has reached about $5.23 billion, up 20 percent over the same period last year. The Vietnamese General Department of Forestry expects that the export for the whole 2019 to reach $11 billion. A large chunk of these Vietnamese exports is made possible with the courtesy of the Cambodia’s corrupt leadership that merely pretends to fight deforestation. Meanwhile, forest coverage in Vietnam has been increasing. This is indeed part and parcel of repaying the eternal gratitude Hun Sen has expressed so often for his power and prosperity.

They are laughing all the way to the bank, while Agriculture Ministry spokesman Srey Vuthy says he has no idea about the timber trade revenue for Cambodia. Well, as they say, ignorance is bliss.

«វៀតណាមបានស្នើយើងពីរឿងប្រជាពលរដ្ឋវៀតណាម ដែលមករស់នៅតំបន់ហ្នឹងយូរមកហើយ ម៉េចក៏យើងមិនផ្ដល់សញ្ជាតិឱ្យអ៊ីចឹង។ ខ្ញុំនិងគណៈប្រតិភូយើងបានឆ្លើយតបយ៉ាងច្បាស់លាស់អំពីរឿងនេះថាយើងមានច្បាប់ទម្លាប់របស់យើង ហើយច្បាប់ទម្លាប់ទាំងនោះ រួមមានច្បាប់សញ្ជាតិផង និងច្បាប់អន្តោប្រវេសន៍ផង។ យើងមិនអាចឱ្យសញ្ជាតិដោយស្វ័យប្រវត្តិ ចំពោះបងប្អូនវៀតណាម ដែលមករស់នៅខុសច្បាប់នៅក្នុងប្រទេសយើងបានទេ។»

ប្រធានគណៈកម្មការកិច្ចការបរទេស សហប្រតិបត្តិការអន្តរជាតិ ឃោសនាការនិងព័ត៌មាននៃរដ្ឋសភា ឈាង វុន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ២១ សីហា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Adieu Hun Sen?

«ឧទាហរណ៍ជាក់ស្តែង យើងឃើញឯកឧត្តមរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងសាធារណការនិងដឹកជញ្ជូន លោក [ស៊ុន ចាន់ថុល] បានចុះជិះកង់ទៅដល់មូលដ្ឋាននៃឯកទេសរបស់លោក។ ទៅមើល(ការ)វាយតម្លៃ ផ្លូវថ្នល់ ក៏ដូចជាឯកឧត្តមរដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងកសិកម្ម លោក [វេង សាខុន] ក៏បានអញ្ជើញចុះវាយតម្លៃពី រឿងភាពរីងស្ងួត ហើយក៏ដូចជារដ្ឋមន្ត្រី មួយចំនួនកំពុងបំពេញភារកិច្ច។»

អ្នកនាំពាក្យរាជរដ្ឋាភិបាល ផៃ ស៊ីផាន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៦ ខែ​ឧសភា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

High dietary intakes of salt can lead to high blood pressure… High salt intake impacts the body and your health in many ways and is linked to conditions other than high blood pressure such as: heart failure/heart attack, kidney problems and kidney stones, oedema (fluid retention), stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of heart muscle), and osteoporosis.

The Heart Foundation (Aust), https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/healthy-eating/food-and-nutrition/salt

«កុំឲ្យសោះណា វាយខ្នោះ ជាប់រហូត ហើយកុំថាខ្លាច យី គេមកពិនិត្យ EBA លោកហ៊ុនសែននិយាយ អ៊ីចឹង? ទេ អារឿងខុសច្បាប់ អត់មានរឿងEBA មិនEBA អីទេ។ តែរឿងខុសច្បាប់ គឺដាក់ហើយ កុំខ្វល់ពេក។ រៀបចំកម្លាំងស្អី? អ្នកឯងរៀបចំធ្វើអំពើភេរវកម្មហ៎? ត្រៀមប្រយុទ្ធហ៎? ប្រាប់ឲ្យហើយ ផ្ញើសារឲ្យទូទាំងប្រទេស បញ្ឈប់ទៅអាគណៈកម្មការចំពោះកិច្ច ទាំងនៅភ្នំពេញ នៅវាលវែង ខេត្តឯណាៗ គឺ និយាយឲ្យត្រង់ ឃើញមួយ វាយមួយទៅ។

នាយករដ្ឋមន្ត្រី ហ៊ុនសែន ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី២១ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ​២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

There is mounting evidence to suggest what Hun Sen has done to Cambodia may come to an end soon.

First, the government offers only poor excuses why Hun Sen has since 26 July cancelled the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers. It claims there is nothing to discuss, which is very conceited of the government to ignore lingering issues, like land disputes, workers welfare, possible loss of EBA concessions, Chinese running amok in Sihanoukville, reduction of water level in the Mekong and Tonle Sap, etc.

It also says some ministers are out in provinces. For instance, Public Works Minister Sun Chanthol is preoccupied with riding a bicycle in countryside to evaluate road conditions; Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon is busy with assessing droughts on location. These missions must be so crucial to autocrat Hun Sen that he cancels the meetings on their account.

Second, there must be something serious happening to silence the man who enjoys bashing and ridiculing political opponents with his foul mouth in public addresses. Now in his place, others like Sar Kheng and Tea Banh are running around the country responding to the opposition’s persistent calls for popular revolts. Why would an autocrat like Hun Sen share limelight with their junior ministers?

Only an anonymous source in Hun Sen’s inner circle reveals a reason for his absence. Hun Sen’s hypertension and high cholesterol have deteriorated to the extent that his doctors in Singapore give him no option other than being hospitalised there for treatments. The source claims his regular diet includes his favourite prahok; this salty fish paste can explain his hypertension and other possible incapacitated medical conditions.

Another well-known factor that can exacerbate hypertension is stress. Given fierce crackdowns on whoever dares do anything Hun Sen considers to be against him, it must be stressful to be ready to squash every single one that has emerged. The source confirms the stress and anxiety have stricken him since his conviction that he would lose a proper election. The latest announcement of Sam Rainsy’s return to Cambodia on 9 November – whether he will or not – may just suffice to send any severe hypertension sufferer to an early grave. The news cannot be a relief for Hun Sen.

Anyway, it is so ironic that Hun Sen uses his favourite prahok to justify his brand of democracy. He says his democracy must be different from that of the West as Cambodians eat prahok, while the latter hamburger. Just like his prahok indulgence that damages his personal health, his democracy now puts his regime in hot water with EU and USA. A loss of EBA concessions, which may lead to popular revolts, becomes so real that it only adds stress and anxiety onto Hun Sen, despite China’s support. He cannot draw much comfort from forthcoming USA sanctions that will hit his top elite’s wealth and family connections in the US.

However, there might be a second miracle on the Mekong Hun Sen can pray for, if he remains calm enough.

Ung Bun Ang

18viii19

Funny News You Can Use

There are so many generals in Hun Sen’s armed forces that the strongman can have them lined up in formation like enlisted men.

The interesting questions are: how many of these generals are in torpor? How do they feel being treated like the enlisted? Or are they just in hibernation waiting for the sun to shine on the corrupt land so that they can have their pride back?

Perhaps only Hun Sen’s opponents who have prepared a strategic plan to invigorate them could answer these questions with some degree of certainty. Who are these worthy opponents, though?

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Viet-Khmer Samaki Part II

Uncle Ho must be proud to be entertained by these well-assimilated young Khmer minds who have access to guns and bullets. Rock on, compatriots.

Oh, the entertainment program also includes another Vietnam’s eternal friend, Laos. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P21McJrkQ4

The caption, translated by Google Translate, reads:

“On June 22, 2015, at Thu Dau Mot University, Binh Duong Province Youth Union cooperated with the Provincial Student Association to organize a cultural exchange program with the theme "Sharing Mekong River".

This is the exchange program between Binh Duong students and Laos and Cambodia students who are studying at the first universities and colleges in the province - 2015. The program takes place with many contents such as: Ceremony food exchange, folk games, fashion shows, cultural exchanges with unique traditional culture of 3 countries: Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia.”

Ung Bun Ang

04viii19

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

Viet-Khmer Samaki

To those beneficiaries of the Viet-Khmer Samaki, enjoy the wonder of a cultural spin you have nurtured. You must be proud of this gradual loss of Khmerness.

https://youtu.be/Fwo6f5IIrdg

Video description (Translated from Vietnamese by Google Translate):

Dance of people: Rice drum; Mr. Ba Hung; Svay chanti; Madizone; Coming to my Vietnamese people (The Vietnam-Cambodia Youth Army Festival: "General Mekong River - Deep Love")

Composition: The Northern Folk Song; Cambodian Folk; Tran Kiet Tuong; Xuan Nghia

Choreography: Van Hung; Minh Hoài; Tien Trung

Performing: The group of dancers of Doan Van Cong Military Zone 7 and military students at schools in Military Region 7

Ung Bun Ang

28vii19

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com

The $300 Hun Sen Glorifies

“ប្រេង យើងអត់មានផលិតទេ យើងនាំចូលទាំងអស់ យើងអត់មានក្រុមហ៊ុនប្រេងទេ។ ប៉ុន្តែឥឡូវនេះ ក្នុងពេលនេះ ទោះបីតម្លៃទី ផ្សារយ៉ាងម៉េចក៍ដោយ តែប្រេងយើង ប្រេងសាំងដូចជានៅតាមស្ថានីយ៏ត្រឹមតែ ៣៦៥០។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៧ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

“និយាយពីប្រាក់ខែយើង ៣០០មែន ក៍ប៉ុន្តែយើងអាចរស់បានដោយសារទំនិញ របស់យើងវាថោកជាង វាថោកជាង តម្លៃស៊ីចុកវាថោកជាង​ ហើយពន្ធដារយើងវាមិនធ្ងន់ អញ្ចឹងគេឃើញយើងប្រាក់ខែប៉ុណ្ណេះ ប៉ុណ្ណេះ ជួនកាលគេពេបជ្រាយអាប្រាក់ខែហ្នឹង ប៉ុន្តែសួរថា​ គេនៅក្រៅប្រទេសណ៎ ប្រាក់ខែច្រើន តែសួរថា ពួកគេអាចសន្សំបានទេ?។ ឥឡូវដូចថា ៣ពាន់ គេអាចចាយបានត្រឹមតែ៣រយ ហើយទុកបាន២៧០០? អត់ទេ អត់មានលទ្ធភាពទេ។”

នាយករដ្ឋមន្រ្តីហ៊ុនសែន ថ្ងៃ​ទី២៧ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ វិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរី

« ខ្ញុំសូមដាក់បទបញ្ជាទៅគណៈកម្មការថា លើកក្រោយ បើចាប់បានផលិតផលទាំងអស់ហ្នឹងហើយ ត្រូវតែចាប់បានម្ចាស់ដែរ បើមិនចាប់បានម្ចាស់ទេ ខ្ញុំនឹងមិនមកកម្មវិធីបំផ្លាញ ទៀតទេ។ នេះជាលក្ខខណ្ឌខ្ញុំ ព្រោះករណីហ្នឹង ធ្វើវាមិនចប់សោះ ហើយយើងមានការងារផ្សេងជា ច្រើនដែលត្រូវធ្វើ ហើយយើងមិនគួរអង្គុយបក់ផ្សែងដដែលៗ អ៊ីចឹងទេ កាលណាបានចប់? លើកក្រោយ បើចង់ឲ្យខ្ញុំមកទៀត ទាល់ចាប់បានម្ចាស់ ទើបខ្ញុំមកទៀត… ។»

រដ្ឋមន្ត្រីក្រសួងមហាផ្ទៃ ស ខេង ​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៣ ខែ​មីនា ឆ្នាំ២០១៩ ភ្នំពេញប៉ុស្តិ៍

Despite being well-travelled, Hun Sen displays a selective sense of what is going on around him. Hun Sen claims a $300 monthly income in Cambodia is better than a $3,000 elsewhere. He does not specify where, but he says over there, people cannot live with the $3,000 while Cambodians could do only with 10 percent of that amount in his Land of Wonders. Indeed, one can wonder.

He brags that though Cambodia imports all fuels, its pump price is only 3,670 riels per litre. He ignores that with an exchange rate of 3,980 riels per USD, the $300 could buy only 327 litres of Gasoline 92, even less with Gasoline Super 95. Meanwhile, the $3,000 could get 3,896 litres in the US, or 2,670 litres elsewhere as the world average fuel price is $1.12 per litre. Thus, the $300 in Cambodia have far less purchasing power, especially for imports.

He claims his $300 goes a long way because foodstuffs and consumer goods are cheaper in Cambodia. Perhaps he is right. They are cheap because they are fake. There has been so much of fake products flooding local markets that Sar Kheng is sick and tired of inhaling the smokes when presiding over ceremonies to burn those confiscated.

Yet, there is no relief in sight. Sar Kheng is frustrated that tons of fake products and out-of-date foodstuffs are seized, but none of their owners are apprehended. Most are imports and Hun Sen has recently abolished Camcontrol, which is the authority charged to keep these fake stuffs out of the country. Thus, the fake products will continue to be available and putting at risk the health of the 72% of the population World Bank classifies as poor and near-poor.

Hun Sen is consumed by self-conceit. He challenges earners outside Cambodia to save 90% of their $3,000 income. The only people who could save 90% of their income is the 3% of the Cambodian population that World Bank grades as “prosperous”. This select group is dominated by Hun Sen, his family, and his significant minions whose actual incomes often far exceed their legitimate one.

He is out of touch with low income earners even though he often talks at garment workers. He must know only a few could earn $300 a month by toiling with enormous overtimes in addition to their mandatory 48-hour week that pays a mere $182 a month. Their frequent mass fainting attest to the fact that they may have neither money for nutritional foods nor time for adequate rest. He must know there are over a million Cambodians being forced to take risks working abroad for an average monthly income of $300, leaving behind their young children and family to fend for themselves.

It is shameful Hun Sen continues to exploit cheap labour by lauding fake lifestyles that are detrimental to public health and family development in the long run. He has kept them poor so that they make millions for him, his family, and his minions to enjoy.

Ung Bun Ang

4iv19

Fake News You Can Use

The talk of riel replacing dollar as a main currency in Cambodia has been on and off for ages.

Now, the “who is who” in Cambodia’s financial world describe the riel power in glowing terms. They say the riel lowers production costs, creates jobs, promotes investments and exports, and earns more revenues for the State. Oh, they also say it is about sovereignty and national pride as well. Perfect.

The only thing riel has failed to do so far is to create spine and guts for decision-makers to implement a hara-kiri. Someone in the government knows the currency that has been so far responsible for economic growth and riel stability is the dollar, not the riel, not even the ability of those who run the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Without the US dollar, the riel value will plunge down the drain, taking the whole economy and the Hun Sen government with it. Anyone with brain would trust neither the riel nor those in the Ministry to control and stabilise the riel and thus economy without the US dollar.

That is why after the talks, there is only hot air. The use of riel has plummeted from 46% in 1993 to about 10% in 2013.

“The use of the riel promotes investment and creates jobs. The use of riel will help our country obtain more revenue from issuing the currency.”

National Bank of Cambodia Deputy Governor Neav Chanthana, 26 March 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

“It is about sovereignty – we will have our own currency and it is a source of national pride as well.”

Acleda Bank President and Group Managing Director In Channy, 26 March 2019, The Phnom Penh Post

Should you wish to receive Pseng-Pseng on your screen as soon as it is released, subscribe to it at https://tinyletter.com/pseng-pseng

Pseng-Pseng is published irregularly. Previous issues are archived at pseng-pseng.blogspot.com