By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir
Unofficial Translation from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read Cambodge Soir’s original article in French
A committee was charged with studying the increase in the number of MPs, in response to the population growth, currently estimated at 14.5 million. With a 5 to 1 majority, the committee members judge that it is too early to adopt this reform.
The increase in the number of MPs to respond to the population growth will not take place if the government were to follow the recommendations issued by the committee in charge of studying this issue. Of the 6 committee members (one representative for each political party which occupies seats at the National Assembly, two representatives of the Ministry of Interior, and the director of the National Institute of Statistics), only one member: Son Chhay, the SRP MP, was in favor of this increase. On Thursday, the 5 other members believe that the time has not come yet, their decision led Son Chhay to slam the door on them.
“We based ourselves on the demographic study performed by the Ministry of Planning, according to which, the country counts 14.5 million of people. We can thus increase the number of MPs to 135 [instead of 123]. But the other 5 committee members believe that this would cost too much when 35% of the population still live below the poverty level…,” Son Chhay regretted. He was wondering about the real motivation behind this refusal.
Princess Sisowath Santa, the committee deputy-chair, explains that this increase would force the State to pay salaries to 12 new MPs (at about $2,000 each, plus their expenses). Nevertheless, she reminded that the government is not obligated to follow the recommendations of the committee.
The increase in the number of MPs to respond to the population growth will not take place if the government were to follow the recommendations issued by the committee in charge of studying this issue. Of the 6 committee members (one representative for each political party which occupies seats at the National Assembly, two representatives of the Ministry of Interior, and the director of the National Institute of Statistics), only one member: Son Chhay, the SRP MP, was in favor of this increase. On Thursday, the 5 other members believe that the time has not come yet, their decision led Son Chhay to slam the door on them.
“We based ourselves on the demographic study performed by the Ministry of Planning, according to which, the country counts 14.5 million of people. We can thus increase the number of MPs to 135 [instead of 123]. But the other 5 committee members believe that this would cost too much when 35% of the population still live below the poverty level…,” Son Chhay regretted. He was wondering about the real motivation behind this refusal.
Princess Sisowath Santa, the committee deputy-chair, explains that this increase would force the State to pay salaries to 12 new MPs (at about $2,000 each, plus their expenses). Nevertheless, she reminded that the government is not obligated to follow the recommendations of the committee.
3 comments:
Yes, the number of MP should not
exeeded 8-10 per million of
population. And since we are poor,
we should strived to keep it at
about 8 per millions. Thus, this
work out to about 116 MPs for a
14.5 millions population.
Democracy of CPP is the firm grip in power...their method of democracy can be adjusted and changed only if CPP gain power....if not, they will never do it.
Eventhough, the rationalizing practice of demography in this world.
when more presure comes, they increase 20% of salary that is not compatible at all for the global economic...and CPP is afraid to increase five representatives to worked broadly in this changing world...
Wrong, the CPP is just serving the
wills of the people, and right now
people chose the 20% over the extra
MPs. Furthermore, we should cut 5
more MPs because right now we have
more MPs/population than the UK
has.
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