Prime Minister Hun Manet added another minister delegate to his staff \u2014 the son-in-law of former National Assembly president Heng Samrin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acting head of state Say Chhum signed a decree on September 5 appointing Pen Vibol as a minister delegate attached to the prime minister, making him the 30th official with the position. It did not yet specify responsibilities. Vibol is married to Heng Sam Oun<\/a>, the daughter of Heng Samrin<\/mark>, who was last month appointed as the honorary president of the Supreme Privy Council to the king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another of Samrin\u2019s his son-in-laws is National Assembly second vice president Vong Soth, while previous media reports say another of his daughters, Heng Sam An, is married to Oddar Meanchey governor Pen Kosal, and that Kosal\u2019s brother is lawmaker Pen Simon. Simon\u2019s wife was referenced in a 2017 Global Witness report on illegal timber trafficking on suspicion of involvement in the trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The appointment of Vibol continues the trend of most senior appointments in Manet\u2019s happening through familial relationships or being part of the ruling elite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n