PICTURE PERFECT: An aerial view of what Phnom Penh looks like now, taken from the writer's hotel window
ILLUSTRIOUS COMPANY: (From left) The writer with Princess Norodom Arunrasmy and Datuk Kamal Yan, Special Adviser to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib RazakMonday, May 17th, 2010
Rusdi Mustapha
The Malay Mail
IN 1991, I flew on an army plane to Cambodia to see our soldiers serving under the auspices of the United Nations in Battambang.
This country was just one big dust bowl and rubbish bin as it had to endure too many wars and invasions, and millions of its population were decimated by that evil force under the guise of the dreaded Khmer Rouge.
Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is bouncing back with a vengeance, economically, politically and socially.
Last week, I had another chance to be part of an official visit there.
Our delegation was headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It was a moment of pride to see how Malaysia was being received with much respect by the Kingdom of Cambodian and its government.
Reason? Well, when Cambodia was down and out, Malaysia was there to lend assistance. You name it and we were there to help them without any condition. And sincere assistance to a country in need has borne its fruitful return.
Today, Malaysia is one of Cambodia's biggest foreign investors, besides Japan, China and South Korea.
As said, we are investing everywhere in Cambodia with the consent of their government.
Last week’s official visit saw Malaysian investors committing about US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion, according to AFP reports).
It was reported the private sector agreements covered “education, information communication technology security, produce deemed halal, coffee growing, a poultry farm, and in the plantation sector”. During the three-day visit, Najib met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and he pledged to encourage more Malaysians to invest in the kingdom.
Barely two years ago when I visited Phnom Penh, a ride from the Pochentong Airport (since renamed Phnom Penh Airport) on the way to town will expose us to a dusty road filled with red laterite dust, rubbish strewn everywhere and the proverbial chaotic traffic mainly filled with small motorcycles. But on this trip, it was a surprise!
It was like coming to a new township where everything is perfect. Can this be just for the sake of an official visit of a foreign leader that the road from the airport leading to the official hotel is filled with decorations? No, it wasn’t! I took the trouble to visit other parts of Phnom Penh and true enough the whole city has been transformed!
Indeed, Phnom Penh has decided to take a giant leap and the city is now, to my reckoning, one of the best and most comfortable cities to visit. Good food, friendly people, great scenery.
If you decide to, you can sit on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club, sipping the great coffee and eating its famous cheeseburger and watching the river Mekong flow ever solidly and majestically.
According to Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the Cambodians have a very strong resolve and they want the country to forge ahead come what may.
“We are a very positive people, the hardships we had to endure in the past, we leave them behind, but not to forget them as a lesson for us.
"Malaysia has always been a real friend to Cambodia and I see that relationship to be much stronger as we move ahead as a country.
"Investment from Malaysia has always been given a priority,” she told a group of us at her residence in the capital.
The princess is the daughter of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and she is also the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia.
During the lunch she prepared for us, we had laksa, rending and otak-otak and many more almost familiar Cambodian foods that are so like Malaysian cuisine.
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both fly to Cambodia and the flight from KL is only about one and a half hours.
Malaysians do not need a visa to go there. So, what are you waiting for?
This country was just one big dust bowl and rubbish bin as it had to endure too many wars and invasions, and millions of its population were decimated by that evil force under the guise of the dreaded Khmer Rouge.
Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is bouncing back with a vengeance, economically, politically and socially.
Last week, I had another chance to be part of an official visit there.
Our delegation was headed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
It was a moment of pride to see how Malaysia was being received with much respect by the Kingdom of Cambodian and its government.
Reason? Well, when Cambodia was down and out, Malaysia was there to lend assistance. You name it and we were there to help them without any condition. And sincere assistance to a country in need has borne its fruitful return.
Today, Malaysia is one of Cambodia's biggest foreign investors, besides Japan, China and South Korea.
As said, we are investing everywhere in Cambodia with the consent of their government.
Last week’s official visit saw Malaysian investors committing about US$1 billion (RM3.3 billion, according to AFP reports).
It was reported the private sector agreements covered “education, information communication technology security, produce deemed halal, coffee growing, a poultry farm, and in the plantation sector”. During the three-day visit, Najib met Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, and he pledged to encourage more Malaysians to invest in the kingdom.
Barely two years ago when I visited Phnom Penh, a ride from the Pochentong Airport (since renamed Phnom Penh Airport) on the way to town will expose us to a dusty road filled with red laterite dust, rubbish strewn everywhere and the proverbial chaotic traffic mainly filled with small motorcycles. But on this trip, it was a surprise!
It was like coming to a new township where everything is perfect. Can this be just for the sake of an official visit of a foreign leader that the road from the airport leading to the official hotel is filled with decorations? No, it wasn’t! I took the trouble to visit other parts of Phnom Penh and true enough the whole city has been transformed!
Indeed, Phnom Penh has decided to take a giant leap and the city is now, to my reckoning, one of the best and most comfortable cities to visit. Good food, friendly people, great scenery.
If you decide to, you can sit on the balcony of the Foreign Correspondents Club, sipping the great coffee and eating its famous cheeseburger and watching the river Mekong flow ever solidly and majestically.
According to Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the Cambodians have a very strong resolve and they want the country to forge ahead come what may.
“We are a very positive people, the hardships we had to endure in the past, we leave them behind, but not to forget them as a lesson for us.
"Malaysia has always been a real friend to Cambodia and I see that relationship to be much stronger as we move ahead as a country.
"Investment from Malaysia has always been given a priority,” she told a group of us at her residence in the capital.
The princess is the daughter of Prince Norodom Sihanouk and she is also the Cambodian Ambassador to Malaysia.
During the lunch she prepared for us, we had laksa, rending and otak-otak and many more almost familiar Cambodian foods that are so like Malaysian cuisine.
AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines both fly to Cambodia and the flight from KL is only about one and a half hours.
Malaysians do not need a visa to go there. So, what are you waiting for?
13 comments:
Thank you to Malaysian govt. and the people of Malaysia. On the downside we don't like some malaysian private companies mistreating khmer migrant workers.
What are these three fools doing?
Mrs. Arunrasmy, your father king Sihanouk, the idiot khmer king, cost 1.7 millions khmers lives when he invented Khmer Rouges 35 years ago. What would you have to say about that?
Princess Norodom Arumrasmey, Ambassador of Cambodia to Malaysia used to a street seller of fried chicken in US, and also the wife of Keo Puth Resmy, ex-embassador of Cambodia to Malaysia (Only Cambodia's case). But, she now serves as a highest diplomat representing Cambodia that does nothing beside acting like: tourism, dancing, gambling, shopping, and singing diplomat. She only cares about her family and party interests rather than the embassy and country interests. She stations and works in Malaysia a week of the month, the rest of the weeks, she travels to Cambodia or overseas. She never cares about the Cambodian housemaids and workers when they faced problems with Malaysian employers.Embassy activities and functions where the forum to show or exposure about Cambodia almost zero. Why? Because she saves the embassy's monthly expended fund provided by the government for her pocket.
How can her represent Cambodia? Please stop barking and showing off! We know you very well princess!
This view is seen be the eyes of someone who is in a hotel.
Ask a regular person in the street if he sees the same view..
8:13 PM
Remarkable perspective, you've put it.
Great job!
War is peace
I've to Cambodia six to seven times a year, and with this particular view something strut me disturbingly, which brought to my attention to this question: where are all the people and motorcycles and cyclo drivers--and why are the cars only shown(pictured)?
War is peace
The whole Malaysian Peninusula countries have been very kind to Cambodian. They have treated us with respect and much admiration unlike those of our border contries. For that I thank you.
10:17 PM
You meant like they treated our Cambodian workers?
Who's interests are you looking after?
War is peace
Hey War is Peace I like your name and comment - you have tried to give the poor khmer a clue, but how many of them even realize what you are trying to say. But do not despair keep chipping at it!
I might want to add that NO ONE and NOBODY come to our land to help lighten our oppressive load:
The Viets came for our lands and our rivers.
The Thais came for casinos and tourism money and spread sewage, not to speak of they wanting to claim all the Prasat Khmer left rotten in the jungle.
The chinese came for everything and anything they can make a buck out of.
The Europeans and Americans came for sex slave and child pornography......
I can go on and on....
I am tired and I need to let the rest of you readers continue and take charge from here!
12:53 PM
where did you get your fact from? Dumb ass like you and
short sight like you is better off if the Khmer
rough finished you off.
This is a good feeling article and thank you for supporting the effort being made in Cambodia. More investors are welcome, but the cost of bribery continue to climb. Let's hope the new Khmer corruption law will be useful to protect foreign investors.
This area is probably an off limit to everyone, but the filty rich people.
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