Amid the accusations by
many over the recent promotion of Civil Services Minister Hun Many to Deputy
Prime Minister, Prime Minister Hun Manet explains that the promotion is part of
the government’s effort to pursue more effectiveness in public service reforms
and thus has nothing to do with the fact that Many is his younger brother.
Many, who is also the
President of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, was elected to be an
11th Deputy Prime Minister by the National Assembly during a Wednesday plenary
session, chaired by NA President Khuon Sudary and attended by 120 lawmakers,
all of whom gave their stamp of approval.
King Norodom Sihamoni later
officialised the promotion with a Royal decree.
However, there have been numerous
criticisms over the promotion with many individuals and media outlets labelling
it as nepotism.
In response to the attack, Mr Hun
Manet, at yesterday’s announcement of winning model public service provision
units in the education and health sectors in 2023, explained that Many’s
promotion is not related to the fact he and Many ‘shared the same surname’ but
is based on the crucial position of the Minister of Civil Service, which Many
is holding right now.
“No matter who is the Minister of
Civil Service, this Ministry is responsible for the implementation of reforms
in public functions,” the Premier said.
“If the Minister is holding a
less important position, how can he monitor how the others are doing their
jobs? The Minister may share my last name, but we have to upgrade his authority
and accountability for the overall interest of the nation,” the Prime Minister
said.
Mr Hun Manet added that public
services is one of the three areas, the others being education and health, that
the government of the 7th mandate is prioritising for reform, to the point that
a special national committee was created and is being led by himself to monitor
the reform progress.
“We need effectiveness, in
simpler words, a sword, meanwhile, we do not have much time,” he said.
“We need absolute authority to
implement the reform effectively. The Ministry carries the responsibility to
assist the reform process in all institutions; therefore, it is necessary to
upgrade the key person of this Ministry,” he added.
Shortly after taking over the
Ministry last year, Many announced his commitment to reforming and
strengthening the public administration effectively and efficiently, as well as
promoting and modernising public institutions in line with the government’s Pentagonal
Strategy.
“It is necessary for continuous
and essential reforms to ensure national sustainability,” he said, citing
social development causes and shifts in the world’s conditions that will have
an impact on the economy, society, and politics.
“This is the beginning of a new
chapter in the work we must continue. To increase the efficacy and efficiency
of the country, we must collaborate and apply similar operational procedures.
We must take these steps to better our country,” he said.
The Ministry of Civil Service
was set up during the fifth National Assembly legislative session through the
integration of three state institutions: the Secretariat of the Civil Service,
the Council for Administrative Reform, and the Royal School of Administration.
According to the Constitution of Cambodia, Deputy Prime Ministers help the Prime Minister run the Council of Ministers. The Prime Minister, who chairs the plenary sessions, may assign a Deputy Prime Minister to preside over the working sessions. The Prime Minister shall also have the right to delegate his power to a Deputy Prime Minister or to any member of the Royal Government.
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