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| Chea Xim and Hun Neg (Hun Xen's father) could readily use this place for their urgent medical trips overseas? |
By Zsombor Peter and Eang Mengleng
March 5, 2013
The Cambodia Daily
“This airplane is for use by the top national leaders, such as: King and Queen Mother; delegations lead by Senate President Chea Sim; delegations lead by National Assembly President Heng Samrin; delegations lead by Prime Minister Hun Sen; and use in other necessary and urgent cases”
The Council of Ministers has revealed that its new Airbus A320, meant for shuttling Prime Minister Hun Sen and a select few others around the world, is being leased from China Southern Airlines but refrained from disclosing how much the deal was worth.
Last month, CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said the government had purchased the plane—which has an estimated price tag of $91.5 million—before retracting the claim and stating that it was being leased. He went on to say that only Mr. Hun Sen and Mao Havanall, secretary of state at the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation, were privy to the details.
But on Friday, the Press and Quick Reaction Unit at the Council of Ministers said in a statement that the 150-seat plane, first used to fly King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath to China last month, was being leased from China Southern.
“The plane used to fly the King and Queen Mother to Beijing on February 21, 2013, is the plane that the Royal Government leased from China Southern Airlines Company Limited through a monopoly leasing agreement (Aircraft Charter Agreement) made between the State Secretariat for Civil Aviation and the above company,” the statement reads.
“This airplane is for use by the top national leaders, such as: King and Queen Mother; delegations lead by Senate President Chea Sim; delegations lead by National Assembly President Heng Samrin; delegations lead by Prime Minister Hun Sen; and use in other necessary and urgent cases,” the statement adds.
Although the statement does not say how much the government is paying to lease the plane, it claims that the deal will not cost the government more than it already pays to charter flights from national carrier Cambodia Angkor Air.
“Because of their friendship, both parties have agreed that the annual lease will not cost more than the average price to lease the special planes the leaders have used in the past,” according to the statement.
Quick Reaction Unit spokesman Ek Tha referred all questions about the deal’s price tag to Council of Ministers Secretary of State Tek Retsamrech, who could not be reached.
China Southern could not be reached, either, and a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy said he did not know about the deal.
The secrecy surrounding the deal has led the opposition SRP to question the economics of the agreement. Last week, SRP lawmaker Son Chhay said that he planned to bring the matter up for debate at the National Assembly.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan conceded that the government had a duty to reveal the cost of the deal to the public.
“They have a responsibility, but [I am] not the right person to share with you,” he said, referring questions back to the Quick Reaction Unit.
Without knowing the details of the deal, Mr. Siphan nonetheless insisted last week that it would save the government money. He said senior officials spend up to $3 million a year on flights with Angkor Air and other commercial carriers.
2 comments:
"Because of their friendship, both parties have agreed that the annual lease will not cost more than the average price to lease the special planes the leaders have used in the past,” according to the statement."
The Friendship and business are different, if China has not get some win China company will never lease this aircraft. Why?
1) this China Aircraft Leasing Company (CALC) leased this type from airbus. How can the China leased leased Company give Cambodia as present because they leased from Airbus too?
2) Max. $ 3 million per year is expensive of this aircraft as second hand.
Source:
http://www.airbus.com/presscentre/pressreleases/press-release-detail/detail/china-aircraft-leasing-company-commits-to-36-a320-family-aircraft/
Assume that the plane costs $91M as Cheam Yeab claimed in the first time and Mr. Siphan claimed that the goernment would spend $3M per year for the senior officials, so the cost of the plane can be used for 30 years. But, if taking the $91M to allocate for investing for 30 years, it could be at least 1/2 of the interest will be returned. So, the fund $91M can be used for the senior official for at least 50 years instead of 30 years. Now that the government own the plan, it will spend additional operation costs. So, does this a good move for Cambodia to own a plane for the five senior officials where as the country is still depend on aid for the donnor country?
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