New appointments flowed in over the weekend with the new government again ensuring that succession and familial relationships are key to the hiring process.
Praing Chulsa was appointed in charge of utilities supplier Electricite du Cambodge, after the previous director Keo Rattanak was appointed mines and energy minister. Chulsa is the son of longtime Mines and Energy secretary of state Ith Praing.
Sok Veasna was made head of the immigration department at the Interior Ministry, a job his father Sok Phal used to hold. Also, Top Neth was appointed director of the department of identification at the ministry in the same royal decree.
Kong Sanya was made the director of the state-run Calmette Hospital, replacing Chheang Ra who is now the health minister. Sanya is the son of Kong Sam Ol, who handles palace affairs for the government.
The king also signed a royal decree on August 25 appointing 104 advisers to Prime Minister Hun Manet, with ranks ranging from undersecretary of state to senior minister. Fifteen lawyers were appointed by the government and will be under the supervision of prominent government lawyer Ky Tech, who is a senior minister in the cabinet.
Mao Sophan was confirmed as army commander and deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. He was appointed to the role temporarily in March 2023 when it was announced that Hun Manet would run for office. Sophan was the head of the infamous Brigade 70, which used to include the prime minister’s Bodyguard Unit till 2009.
Hun Manet issued a sub-decree making Seng Somony a permanent secretary of state at the Ministry of Cult and Religion and Prak Sok Your as permanent secretary of state at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation.
A royal decree confirmed Sous Prathna as the new director of the administration department at the Interior Ministry and new Interior Minister Sar Sokha appointed Khieu Sopheak, Touch Sokhak, and Phat Sophanith as ministry spokespersons. Sophanith was separately also appointed secretary-general of the Interior Ministry.
Pen Bona, former head of the Cambodian Journalists Club, was appointed as government spokesperson by Manet.