By James Welsh and Yun Samean
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
The national budget for 2007 will be 25 percent higher than 2006, at $1,155 billion compared to this year's $926 million, according to a copy of the draft budget law obtained Thursday.
The ministries of Education and Health, which have in previous years faired poorly in comparison with the ministries of Interior and Defense, have been designated to receive more than any other ministries next year.
The Education Ministry is set to receive $132.7 million, a 23.5 percent increase on the $107.5 million it was allocated for 2006. The Ministry of Health has been allocated $81.9 million, 29 percent more than the $63.5 million it was designated for 2006. The Defense Ministry has been allocated the third highest amount of cash, $77.9 million, which is 3 percent higher than the $75.7 million it was designated for 2006. The Ministry of Interior has the fourth highest budget for 2007, at $45.4 million, which is 5.8 percent higher than the $42.9 million it was allocated for this year.
The Ministry of Cult and Religions has been allocated the least amount of cash, at $1.8 million.
The draft budget law was approved by the Council of Ministers on Nov 3 and needs to be passed by the National Assembly before the end of the year.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said the budget figures will likely bear little resemblance to the amount of money that will be dealt out.
The ministries of Interior and Defense have in previous years overspent on their budgets, while the social ministries have sometimes failed to receive the funds they were promised, he said.
"I think it's a window dressing operation," Sam Rainsy said of the new budget figures.
"The figures that appear on the draft budget, when compared to the implementation, are meaningless," he added.
CPP lawmaker Ai Khon said such criticism is unwarranted.
"Sam Rainsy's comments are groundless because figures cannot be exaggerated," he said, adding that the drafting of the budget law was closely monitored by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Hang Chuon Naron, Finance Ministry secretary-general, could not be reached for comment.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the Education Ministry's budget indicates a government focus on education to boost the country's economy.
"It is a long term investment for the sector," Khieu Kanharith said, adding that Cambodia needs "economic knowledge."
"Defense is almost equal to health because the defense needs to spend a lot of money for clothes and weapons," Khieu Kanharith added.
Kang Chandararot head of the economics unit at the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, said that the 2007 budget draft is based on a different system to previous years, and is more in line with the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
"Up to last year the state expenses and revenues were not drafted in line in the path of the Millennium Development Goals," he said. "Before the framework of the government was not clear."
The ministries of Education and Health, which have in previous years faired poorly in comparison with the ministries of Interior and Defense, have been designated to receive more than any other ministries next year.
The Education Ministry is set to receive $132.7 million, a 23.5 percent increase on the $107.5 million it was allocated for 2006. The Ministry of Health has been allocated $81.9 million, 29 percent more than the $63.5 million it was designated for 2006. The Defense Ministry has been allocated the third highest amount of cash, $77.9 million, which is 3 percent higher than the $75.7 million it was designated for 2006. The Ministry of Interior has the fourth highest budget for 2007, at $45.4 million, which is 5.8 percent higher than the $42.9 million it was allocated for this year.
The Ministry of Cult and Religions has been allocated the least amount of cash, at $1.8 million.
The draft budget law was approved by the Council of Ministers on Nov 3 and needs to be passed by the National Assembly before the end of the year.
SRP leader Sam Rainsy said the budget figures will likely bear little resemblance to the amount of money that will be dealt out.
The ministries of Interior and Defense have in previous years overspent on their budgets, while the social ministries have sometimes failed to receive the funds they were promised, he said.
"I think it's a window dressing operation," Sam Rainsy said of the new budget figures.
"The figures that appear on the draft budget, when compared to the implementation, are meaningless," he added.
CPP lawmaker Ai Khon said such criticism is unwarranted.
"Sam Rainsy's comments are groundless because figures cannot be exaggerated," he said, adding that the drafting of the budget law was closely monitored by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Hang Chuon Naron, Finance Ministry secretary-general, could not be reached for comment.
Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said the Education Ministry's budget indicates a government focus on education to boost the country's economy.
"It is a long term investment for the sector," Khieu Kanharith said, adding that Cambodia needs "economic knowledge."
"Defense is almost equal to health because the defense needs to spend a lot of money for clothes and weapons," Khieu Kanharith added.
Kang Chandararot head of the economics unit at the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, said that the 2007 budget draft is based on a different system to previous years, and is more in line with the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
"Up to last year the state expenses and revenues were not drafted in line in the path of the Millennium Development Goals," he said. "Before the framework of the government was not clear."
4 comments:
I heard that some youth organizations such as YCC, try to lobby government officials and MPs to help to increase the national budget for Education, health and labor sectors each year. I think they are successful now.
The budget plan sounds great on paper, but everyone knows the actual disbursement of money is nothing near the allocated figure for each ministry. As the Education and Health Ministries are run by Samdech-Nhiek-Bun_Chhay-Funcinpec, the actual disbursement will be much lower just like in the previous years. The National Treasury would just say there is no money in the coffer for them while its senior officials own LandCruiser or Lexus SUVs. And, they have to bribe the treasury officials to get whatever little amounts of disbursement available to them.
But, other ministries such as Finance, Council of Ministers, Interior and Natinal Defence that are controlled by the CPP always get and spend more than their allocated budgets. There is no need for a lobby from any non-governmental organisations as the government would not take any notice. The government has already had its own agenda even before those organisations thought about lobbying the government to provide more funding for certain sectors.
The government supposed to be the role modole and the parents for the people but that's not how it is in Cambodia. The government is the bad guys running from the top down systematically and the have the gut to smile in the cameras without shame. Who do you call those people; the shamless/thick faced people! Go look at yourself in the mirrow Hun Sen.
I think it is better than they do nothing. You are right. This government is too much corruption. But, we should courage them to do better, not just blame on them. That the way to build our country. Step by step, is not the good way that pushes them too hard. I think they will realize that the good government makes them popular. If their face is thick, why don't you chop their face? So, their face will be normal.:)
Thanks
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