Cambodia Morning News For August 16

Cambodia ruling party sweeps parliament after vote with no opposition
Cambodian leader Hun Sen has swept all seats in parliament after holding an election with no opposition, as the country settles into one-party rule and a government that could face questions of legitimacy on the world stage.
— The Nation

PM Hun Sen Wants Politicians from Other Parties to Be Advisors to the New Government (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Wednesday that the Royal Government of Cambodia for the 6th mandate will give the opportunity to other capable people from other parties to play role in the new government.
— Fresh News (video)

US says expanding visa bans over ‘flawed’ Cambodia poll
The United States said yesterday it was expanding visa restrictions on individuals responsible for “anti-democratic” actions in the run-up to Cambodia’s July 29 election.
— Malay Mai

Cambodia arrests Phuket man wanted in Chon Buri murder
Cambodian authorities have arrested Panya Yingdung, 39, who was wanted for questioning in the murders of his former girl friend and a companion last month in Chon Buri province.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia’s consumer credit growth remains strong despite slight slowdown
Cambodia has seen a rise in the number of financing institutions in recent years, with dozens setting up shop in the Kingdom to offer credit to consumers and commercial customers alike.
— Southeast Asia Globe

New Minimum Wage Talks Set to Begin Next Month
Last year, in a bid to curry favor with the more than 700,000 garment workers in the country ahead of the election, Hun Sen oversaw the raising of the minimum wage to $170 per month and provided additional benefits such as free transportation and medical care.
— VOA Cambodia

Tech disrupts Cambodia’s tour guides
A van arrives at Angkor Wat Temple and deposits its load of foreigners who make their way to the World Heritage Site. Noticeably absent among them is a local guide.
— The Asean Post

Cambodian Migrant Workers Dream of Opportunities at Home
Most migrant workers will be unemployed on their return to their home country because of a lack of job opportunities and programs to get people back into work.
— VOA Cambodia

Four cases at arbitration centre in the first half
The Kingdom’s National Commercial Arbitration Centre (NCAC) received four more disputes during the first half of this year, making it a total of 11 cases filed at the centre since it became fully operational in 2014.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Chinese experts begin study on agriculture
As part of a deal signed between Cambodia and China, a group of officials from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has started a study on improving the modernisation of the local agricultural sector.
— Khmer Times

PPSP and PAS report strong performances
Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSP) and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) ¬ both public companies listed in Cambodia’s nascent stock market – reported solid growth during the first half of the year.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia’s Chinese dam conundrum
In June 2018, a leaked environmental impact assessment report on the proposed Sambor Hydropower Dam project in Cambodia revealed that constructing a dam at the proposed site could ‘literally kill the [Mekong] River’.
— East Asia Forum

Higher incomes prompting more Cambodians to travel
The number of outbound Cambodian travellers has increased by 14.5 during the first half of the year due to higher incomes in the country and a more crowded aviation market, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Tourism.
— Khmer Times

EU should reconsider effects of its sanctions
The national election is now over, and it is decision time for the European Union (EU), which is considering sanctions against Cambodia.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Chinese influence to sweep Kingdom?
Growing Cambodia-China ties have seen the latter’s influence sweep across the Kingdom through increased investments and tourism.
— The Phnom Penh Post

PM Hun Sen Says Rainsy Hacks His Facebook Account (Video inside)
Addressing to 15,000 workers from 17 factories in Phnom Penh on Wednesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced to the public that the convicted Sam Rainsy, former opposition leader, hacked his Facebook account.
— Fresh News (video)

Human Rights Watch urges land rights activist Tep Vanny’s release
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday urged authorities in the Kingdom to immediately release prominent land rights activist Tep Vanny whom they claim has been imprisoned on “fabricated charges” for the past two years.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Everything you need to know about Cambodia from jungle temples to the hidden magic in the city streets
The southeast Asian country has something for everyone, whether you’re a nature-lover wanting to explore the spectacular scenery, or a culture vulture wanting to visit the awe-inspiring temples and bustling cities.
— Mirror

Sesan villagers request facilities
Over 50 families affected by the Lower Sesan II dam in Stung Treng province’s Sesan district have sent a letter to the provincial governor and prominent tycoon Kith Meng requesting a number of public service facilities for the community.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cassava mosaic virus now affecting at least five provinces: Ministry
The cassava mosaic virus, a disease with the potential to devastate whole harvests, is now present in at least five provinces in the country, the Ministry of Agriculture recently disclosed.
— Khmer Times

Chinese leaders send congratulatory messages to Cambodia’s Hun Sen on election victory
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to president of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party Samdech Techo Hun Sen for his party’s victory in the recent general elections.
— ecns

National Police Commissariat: Foreigners in Cambodia Commits 88 Crimes by First Semester 2018
General Thong Lim, Deputy Police Chief and Chief of Hotline, representing General Neth Savoeun, National Police Chief, on Wednesday morning, conducted a second annual review of the 2018 performance of City-Provincial Police Department, along with other embassies in Cambodia.
— Fresh News

Five of the very best places to eat in Asia
Food is arguably the gateway to any culture and nothing could be truer than when discovering the hidden gems of Asia.
— Newshub

Feature photo Mohd Fazlin Mohd Effendy Ooi

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.