Submitted by pekwan on Monday, May 17th, 2010
Monday, May 17th, 2010
PICTURE PERFECT: An aerial view of what Phnom Penh looks like now, taken from the writer's hotel window
IN 1991, I flew on an army plane to Cambodia to see our soldiers serving under the auspices of the United Nations in Battambang.
This country was just one big dust bowl and rubbish bin as it had to endure too many wars and invasions, and millions of its population were decimated by that evil force under the guise of the dreaded Khmer Rouge.
ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY: (From left) The writer with Princess Norodom Arunrasmy<br />and Datuk Kamal Yan, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is bouncing back with a vengeance, economically, politically and socially.
Last week, I had another chance to be part of an official visit there.
Our delegation was headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It was a moment of pride to see how Malaysia was being received with much respect by the Kingdom of Cambodian and its government.
Reason? Well, when Cambodia was down and out, Malaysia was there to lend assistance. You name it and we were there to help them without any condition. And sincere assistance to a country in need has borne its fruitful return.
Today, Malaysia is one of Cambodia's biggest foreign investors, besides Japan, China and South Korea.
As said, we are investing everywhere in Cambodia with the consent of their government.
Last week’s official visit saw Malaysian investors committing about US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion, according to AFP reports).
It was reported the private sector agreements covered “education, information communication technology security, produce deemed halal, coffee growing, a poultry farm, and in the plantation sector”. During the three- day visit, Najib met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and he pledged to encourage more Malaysians to
invest in the kingdom.
Barely two years ago when I visited Phnom Penh, a ride from the Pochentong Airport (since renamed Phnom Penh Airport) on the way to town will expose us to a dusty road filled with red laterite dust, rubbish strewn everywhere and the proverbial chaotic traffic mainly filled with small motorcycles. But on this trip, it was a surprise!
It was like coming to a new township where everything is perfect. Can this be just for the sake of an official visit of a foreign leader that the road from the airport leading to the official hotel is filled with decorations? No, it wasn’t! I took the trouble to visit other parts of Phnom Penh and true enough the whole city has been transformed!
Indeed, Phnom Penh has decided to take a giant leap and the city is now, to my reckoning, one of the best and most comfortable cities to visit. Good food, friendly people, great scenery.
If you decide to, you can sit on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club, sipping the great coffee and eating its famous cheeseburger and watching the river Mekong flow ever solidly and majestically.
According to Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the Cambodians have a very strong resolve and they want the country to forge ahead come what may.
“We are a very positive people, the hardships we had to endure in the past, we leave them behind, but not to forget them as a lesson for us.
"Malaysia has always been a real friend to Cambodia and I see that relationship to be much stronger as we move ahead as a country.
"Investment from Malaysia has always been given a priority,” she told a group of us at her residence in the capital.
The princess is the daughter of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and she is also the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia.
During the lunch she prepared for us, we had laksa, rending and otak-otak and many more almost familiar Cambodian foods that are so like Malaysian cuisine.
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both fly to Cambodia and the flight from KL is only about one and a half hours.
Malaysians do not need a visa to go there. So, what are you waiting for?
Our delegation was headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It was a moment of pride to see how Malaysia was being received with much respect by the Kingdom of Cambodian and its government.
Reason? Well, when Cambodia was down and out, Malaysia was there to lend assistance. You name it and we were there to help them without any condition. And sincere assistance to a country in need has borne its fruitful return.
Today, Malaysia is one of Cambodia's biggest foreign investors, besides Japan, China and South Korea.
As said, we are investing everywhere in Cambodia with the consent of their government.
Last week’s official visit saw Malaysian investors committing about US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion, according to AFP reports).
It was reported the private sector agreements covered “education, information communication technology security, produce deemed halal, coffee growing, a poultry farm, and in the plantation sector”. During the three- day visit, Najib met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and he pledged to encourage more Malaysians to
invest in the kingdom.
Barely two years ago when I visited Phnom Penh, a ride from the Pochentong Airport (since renamed Phnom Penh Airport) on the way to town will expose us to a dusty road filled with red laterite dust, rubbish strewn everywhere and the proverbial chaotic traffic mainly filled with small motorcycles. But on this trip, it was a surprise!
It was like coming to a new township where everything is perfect. Can this be just for the sake of an official visit of a foreign leader that the road from the airport leading to the official hotel is filled with decorations? No, it wasn’t! I took the trouble to visit other parts of Phnom Penh and true enough the whole city has been transformed!
Indeed, Phnom Penh has decided to take a giant leap and the city is now, to my reckoning, one of the best and most comfortable cities to visit. Good food, friendly people, great scenery.
If you decide to, you can sit on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club, sipping the great coffee and eating its famous cheeseburger and watching the river Mekong flow ever solidly and majestically.
According to Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the Cambodians have a very strong resolve and they want the country to forge ahead come what may.
“We are a very positive people, the hardships we had to endure in the past, we leave them behind, but not to forget them as a lesson for us.
"Malaysia has always been a real friend to Cambodia and I see that relationship to be much stronger as we move ahead as a country.
"Investment from Malaysia has always been given a priority,” she told a group of us at her residence in the capital.
The princess is the daughter of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and she is also the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia.
During the lunch she prepared for us, we had laksa, rending and otak-otak and many more almost familiar Cambodian foods that are so like Malaysian cuisine.
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both fly to Cambodia and the flight from KL is only about one and a half hours.
Malaysians do not need a visa to go there. So, what are you waiting for?
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