Opposition demands a cut to the number of government advisors

By Khmerization
Source: RFA

Mr. Son Chhay (pictured), an MP from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), has demanded that the government take measures to put a stop to people using their governmental advisory roles to commit offences or conduct illegal business activities.

Mr. Son Chhay's call came after the arrests of Mrs. Pheng Kunthea Borey, chief of protocol of the Senate President Chea Sim, who is also the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), and a number of his advisors on charges of forgery and fraud which he said has tarnished the reputation and image of Cambodian national leaders.

Mr. Son Chhay said, currently, many advisory positions and the honorific royal titles of Oknhas (lords) had been bestowed upon and sold to many businessmen to use in conducting illegal business activities.

At the same time, officials from Mr. Chea Sim's office said that the arrests of many of his loyalists recently were not politically motivated, but rather were carried out in accordance with the laws. The officials added that the investigations have found that many fake documents had been forged by using the name of the senate president.

Up until now, five of Mr. Chea Sim's advisors had been arrested for using his name to forge the documents.