Phnom Penh - Cambodia's long-awaited anti-corruption legislation is ready to consideration in the nation's parliament, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said Monday. "This law is specifically for legislators in the National Assembly and Senate," Kanharith said of the draft bill that was first proposed in 1994.
The law has been demanded by non-government groups, government critics and foreign donors. The latter threaten to put strict conditions on or even withdraw funds to the aid-dependent country nation if progress is not made in implementing the law.
Cambodia became the World Trade Organization's 148th member in October 2004 and is seeking to set up a stock exchange within a year, making it imperative for the notoriously corrupt nation to take steps to make its economy more transparent.
It has been ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia by Berlin-based watchdog Transparency International, and critics claim much of this reputation originates with cronyism and graft at the very highest levels of government.
Donors demand the legislation include provisions for independent review of complaints and to require politicians to declare their assets.
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