Budget shortage looms: SRP

Monday, 16 March 2009
Written by Kay Kimsong The Phnom Penh Post

OPPOSITION lawmakers have called on Prime Minister Hun Sen to account for the large increase in the 2009 national budget, expressing concerns the country lacks the revenue to cover all its slated expenditures during the current global financial upheaval.

In a letter dated Friday, Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarians advised the prime minister to consider amending the 2009 Budget Law, approved by the National Assembly in December, citing a significant drop in customs tax revenue in the first two months of this year.

The Assembly approved US$1.75 billion in spending for 2009, a 28 percent jump on the $1.37 billion spent in 2008.

The letter claims that the Ministry of Finance's General Department of Customs and Excise collected just $64 million in customs tax revenues over January and February, compared with $86 million over the same period last year - a decrease of around 27 percent. Based on these figures, the letter said, tax receipts will fall well short of the $585 million expected in 2009.

"I think the figures show clearly that the government won't be able to collect the amount of customs tax it is planning," said SRP lawmaker Son Chhay.

"My question to the government is what sources of income the government will use for budget expenditures."

He said also that the slowdown in the global economy would likely lead to a further tightening of the state's coffers, estimating that the government would collect a mere 57 percent of its total planned expenditure for 2009.

Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh and other local and international institutions have forecast that the Cambodian economy will be impacted by the financial crisis, especially in garments, tourism, agriculture and construction - the four pillars of the Kingdom's economy. Earlier this month, the IMF predicted Cambodia's GDP would shrink by 0.5 percent in 2009, a far cry from the government's prediction of a 6 percent rise.

Kun Nhem, deputy director of the General Department of Customs and Excise, agreed that import taxes had declined slightly this year, noting a sharp decline in car, motorbike and gasoline imports.

He said that the financial situation has taken the National Assembly by surprise, and that when it debated the Budget Law in December, no one had expected to face such a severe economic downturn.

He added that the department would review the situation in the first quarter of 2009 and set out a new revenue plan based on the current economic situation.

But National Assembly First Vice President Nguon Nhel said the opposition should not worry about the budget for this year.

"Be aware that the government has already known that this would happen before planning the budget. We do have a package of funds to spare once the financial crisis arrives," he said.

"It is not the right time to ask the government about budget expenditures before the law is implemented."

Budget: SRP MPs are concerned

15 March 2009
By Ky Soklim Cambodge Soir Hebdo Translated from French by Luc Sâr Click here to read the article in French

SRP MPs wrote a letter to the prime minister asking him for answers regarding the drop in budget revenue.

The 2009 budget, which was adopted at the end of last year, will no longer be met. This essentially sums up the letter dated 13 March and signed by four opposition MPs. In this letter, the SRP MPs explained that the budget planned for this year – which amounts to $1.7 billion, i.e. 28% increase as compared to 2008 – cannot be met. They explained that during the first two months of 2009, customs fees revenue saw a sharp drop, i.e. this revenue amounted to $64 million, as compared to $86 million for the same period in 2008. The opposition MPs are concerned that, should this revenue drop trend persists, the objective of collecting $585 million in revenue will not be met. They asked Hun Sen to reveal his measures to counter this drop in revenue, and to indicate whether he still believes that the 2009 budget which was approved at the end of 2008, will still remain the same. CPP MP Cheam Yeap, chairman of the NatAss committee for economy and finance, did not wait to give his reply: “Of course, the government has taken all the necessary measures to face this revenue drop.” But, he fails to indicate what these measures are …

Opposition fears voter info card distribution biased towards CPP

Thursday, 05 June 2008
Touch Yuthear
The Mekong Times

Distribution of voter information cards explaining the procedure for Jul 27’s parliamentary election begins today.

Koy Veit, a National Election Committee (NEC) official, said yesterday that the voter information cards, to be distributed by the NEC, will enable officially registered voters to clearly understand what is required to cast a valid ballot.

“[D]ata related to voters themselves, code numbers, polling stations, the date and time of election, and official documents on voters’ identity needed for voting,” would be included on the cards, he told reporters at the NEC headquarters.

Opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) parliamentarian Kuoy Bunroeun raised concerns that the distribution may not be politically neutral, causing a low turnout for opposition supporters. “[During] the Sangkat [commune] elections, we saw that the distribution of the cards was not conducted in a fair and neutral manner because of political discrimination,” he said, noting that the distribution of the voter information cards will be conducted by commune election committees. The “majority of the Provincial Election Council [PEC] officials are representatives from the ruling Cambodian People’s Party [CPP],” he claimed.

Ouk Kimhan, a CPP official, dismissed such claims. “The card tells voters about their names and the location of their ballot box. It does not mean people who do not have this card cannot go to vote,” he said. “I would like to confirm that the PEC and Commune Election Council [CEC] members who will distribute the cards in the 24 cities and provinces are chosen by the NEC. Not all PEC officials are CPP members; they are from all parties. So, the accusation that all PEC and CEC officials are from the CPP is not true: I cannot accept that accusation.”

Society of Justice Party President Ban Sophal said he, like other opposition politicians, want the NEC, PEC and CEC to act “with transparency in implementing their duty.”

NEC Secretary General Tep Nytha denied the voter information card distribution would be politically biased. “The distribution of the card is an invitation to citizens to go and vote,” he said. The distribution will run June 5-25, 2008.

SRP concerned about sales of islands

Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The SRP expressed its concerns over the government’s decision to sell 6 offshore islands located in Kampot province and in Sihanoukville to private investors. SRP MP Son Chhay wrote a letter to prime minister Hun Sen expressing his concerns and his desire for the government to explain clearly about this issue because he is concerned about the loss of the natural habitat on these islands, as well as his concerns about the national anarchy (involved in these unexplained sales of state properties). Son Chhay’s letter was sent since 15 August, and so far, no answer has been provided back yet. The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) indicated that 6 private companies will invest a total of $627 million to develop these 6 islands. Government officials attempted to appease Son Chhay’s concerns by saying that these developments will help the country’s economy. Say Hak, Sihanoukville governor, said that these developments will attract tourists and will generate jobs. He also said that Son Chhay should not be concerned because whatever is being done is to eliminate poverty [and the poor people?]. Thach Khon, Kampot governor, said that the development of these islands will bring in progress. He said that developments are not all bad.