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(1) People – the first goal in RGC’s approach from Triangular, Rectangular and now Pentagonal strategy
Recently, the Royal Government issued a circular on the preparation of the 2027-2029 budget strategy and 2027 (financial) management. The Radio France Internationale – RFI reported that the Royal Government of Cambodia plans to reduce spending by more than USD 170 million on education and health to be allocated to the national defense sector in 2027 […] The Ministry of Economy and Finance has already issued an explanation. There is no such thing as (cutting budget from both sectors) […] there are still people who do not understand […] Let me briefly assert that firstly, the government has not reduced spending on education and health to fill the national defense sector […] and secondly, (the budget for) the social affairs, education, and health sectors (will still) continue to increase […] The government has sufficient budget to increase in important sectors, including national defense, national security, education, and health, namely social affairs […] People have been the first goal in the Royal Government’s approach for many years, starting from the triangular (strategy), the rectangular (strategy) and now entering the first phase pentagonal (strategy) […] In this term of office, from 2024 to 2026, which is three years, the budget for the social affairs sector has increased by an average of more than USD 2,600 million or an average growth of 7%. The national defense and security sector increased by an average of more than $1.1 billion or 3.3% […]
(2) Medium-term budget framework for 2027-2029 increases social sector spending
RFI took the figures that is included in the circular as evidence […] RFI misunderstood that the figures included in the circular were the final figures in the budget law. It is in fact the first figure for negotiation […] What is the figure in the budget law, and what is the figure announced in the previous day’s circular or the “2027 base ceiling,” […] the procedure is that each ministry will negotiate (based on the base ceiling figures) in July and in September, the negotiations will be concluded and summed up to be passed by the National Assembly […] The “2027 base ceiling” is a preliminary figure […] based on the annual activities of the ministry […] During the negotiations, the ministries can request additional non-recurring expenses, additional continuation of some items that were not completed in 2026, and/or additional budget for new priorities or new policies […] That RFI used (the unnegotiated figures) to say […] the 2027 budget for the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education are to be decreased by 170 million compared to 2026, is an incorrect comparison […] In the medium-term budget framework for 2027-2029, social sector spending is planned to increase by 3.4% in 2027, 8.3% in 2028 and is planned to increase by 5% in 2029. (Overall) in 2027-2029, there will be an average increase of 5.6%. There is no indication anywhere that the government is cutting money from education and health to increase national defense […] (If) another party comes to power, (we) don’t know, but the government led by the Cambodian People’s Party (always considers sectors related to people as) a priority […]
(3) National defense sector is growing but withdrawing no funds from other ministries
All in ass, isn’t the national defense sector growing? The national defense sector is also growing. (We give) priority to strengthening the national defense sector. We implement the compulsory law, we reform the army (so we) must increase (the budget), but (we) do not withdraw funds from (other) ministries. The government still has enough budget for that purpose […] National defense is not (a job) for one day. National defense must be carried through for a long time. As long Cambodia remains a country, the national defense (sector), which is protecting both territorial integrity and social security, and social order on a regular basis. Building and defending a strong nation (can be done) while we have strong people. Strong people (can be achieved) depending on investment in human resources, in social affairs, education, and health. (How) do we recruit (the army or implement) military service or a professional army while the people’s knowledge is limited, and their health is poor […] Investment in strengthening the national defense sector, or strengthening national defense work must be investing in people […]
(4) National defense sector strengthened, while human resources investment and development will not be abandoned
You may not view the national defense sector as spending only on national defense. A nation can only be strong if its people are strong, its economy is strong […] Only with a strong economy, a sense of patriotism, and every human resource are capable and healthy will the national defense be strong. National defense is not only about defending the nation from military threats, but defending the nation from all threats, including terrorist attacks and even diseases like COVID-19 […] Although we need to strengthen the national defense sector this year, and in the future, we will not abandon development and investment in human resources, especially in the social sectors, such as education and health. There are no budget cuts, but planning an increase. How much increase will (depend on the budget to be finalized) in September. We know, however, that there will be no decrease for 2027, and there will be no decrease in 2028 and even in 2029. As I announced yesterday, the budget preparation for the medium-term plan will increase by 3.4 percent (in) 2027, 8.3% in 2028, and 5% in 2029 […]
(5) At Khnong Phsar – a trial development project for local people to earn income
On Sunday, without planning, I went to visit Khnong Phsar (a mountain site for tourism development). The destination was not the Khnong Phsar, but the natural hot spring at Te Teuk Pus (in Kompong Speu). At Te Teuk Pus, I saw many people, especially elderly women, soaking in sulfur water […] People took pictures (of me and posting on social media). Someone commented that “why not spend time on the country’s sovereignty, why wasting time going places” […] (asking) what to do there? It’s to monitor and inspect. As usual, when I plan on doing something, meticulously and caring, I go and see. I don’t just listen to reports […] At Khnong Phsar, on March 8, 2025, I went up there, met and learned the needs of the community. I gave the principle to (the Minister of Environment) HE Eang Sophallet, (the Minister of Tourism) HE Huot Hak, and the provincial governor (of Kompong Speu) […] that it should be treated as a trial development project at the local level […] so that local people could earn income. Previously, these people used to go into the forest to do logging. When there are mountaineering tourists, some stopped (cutting wood and resort) to do business, cook, act as guides, and lead the way up […]
(6) Dealing with water need, setting up rest areas, putting in place clean water network
I have recommended reviewing and revoking the small-scale private investment license there because the community is worried that the investment will affect their business. We let private investment move to places from where they can help each other, but not to cause business loss for the community. Let the community have business […] We build them some infrastructure, set up a community market, and set up a green space […] I have suggested, firstly, finding a way to deal with water (shortage) by examining the possibility of building a water catchment, […] secondly, setting up rest areas along the way up in stages, […] and thirdly, putting in place a clean water network […] I appeal to mountaineers not to throw bottles around. Please put them in your own bags or backpacks. Everyone helps take care of the place […] This effort has shown that despite the war, implementation (and development of the projects) does not stop. A road from Oral to Koh Kong is being built and will be an asphalt road in a year or two. Those from Kampong Speu will have an additional road to travel to Koh Kong. After that, the road will cut through Te Teuk Pus […] In Oral, I am very grateful that the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment have also built an access road […]
(7) Private investment welcomed but not to replace or take over the community’s business
You may ask (who this arrangement is for?) Not for anyone else. The entire place has been given to the community to do business and do hospitality […] Don’t bring business people to that place. (It) belongs to the community. (You have had to) teach the community how to do business […] so that they know how to do hospitality, how to make coffee, for instance. In the village, they have houses that (can) host guests […] I hope this place will be sustainable for decades to come. If the arrangement works in this place, it will be an example. There is no need to bring the private sector to invest. Teach the community that has the passion and will and wants to know, want to care for and want to earn money in this sector […] At first, they were worried that whereas the place has tourism potential, the private sector will invest (and) they will lose their (income sources) […] But here we let them be the owners […] We ask the private sector to move down […] In this place up here, the community will do business […] We welcome private investment, but don’t apply the formula to replace or take over the community’s business, but rather helping each other and survive together […]
(8) At Te Teul Pus – to organize and increase the community’s capacity, promote development and make it a successful story
This is how the state and philanthropists help organize and create a community (business). We not only provide infrastructure, but teach them how to earn money […] At Te Teuk Pus, they are looking for the same formula. I invited the community leader to walk with me […] and let me tell them right now that from what I saw the other day, not only that will we not take it away from the people, but in a little while, we will organize it well and increase the capacity of the community; organize and promote development; and make the area a successful story […] At Te Teuk Pus, there is only 10 hectares of land. Now, the forest has grown over a large part of it. If we allow people to invest on the shore, the space will be gone […] It is in this regard that we remove the private resort investment project and move them a little further […] Leave this as a green area […] while I instructed to prepare a pedestrian path, and secondly, a bathing area […] From the green area, there will be a concrete road up, as an ADB project with the Ministry of Rural Development. Hopefully (the project will) be done this year. The road should only go up to the “Buddha path” area and no more […] After that, we leave it as a natural space for people to create and set up tents […]
(9) UNCLOS compulsory conciliation commenced to protect sovereignty and maritime rights
At all times, whether I or other officials, the Royal Government (proposes and implements) policies (for the benefit of the people) […] Even though we are engaged in national defense, we do not forget (development as I said). However, the solution takes time. We need to resolve (the issue of sovereignty) peacefully, and based on the law. Yesterday, we started using the UNCLOS international legal mechanism to resolve and protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and maritime rights through compulsory conciliation. It takes time, but it is better than sending soldiers to fight each other unnecessarily. While not resolving it, then returning to negotiating again. (We will try to) resolve national and territorial issues peacefully it the (possibility) is there. Believe me, no solution by force will (result in) lasting results. No county can use tanks, bombs, or concrete roads to protect the legitimate rights of another. The correct way is to use the law only and we must engage in legal fight […]
(10) The stronger the people, the happier and healthier they are, the stronger the national defense will be for a long time to come
In Kampong Speu, there are touristic sites – Chreav, Oral, Khnong Phsar, Te Teuk Pus, and a few others in Kampong Chhnang. This is (an activity that leads to) economic growth […] Whereas the economy of each community’s livelihood improves – that is national defense. We solve the problem of sovereignty, protecting the territory […] not only by using armed forces, modern military forces, and weapons, but the total strength of the nation, namely the people and the socio-economic system […] The government has helped to provide support (to the frontline) in principle, but we welcome further (support from the people). I thank you for the national spirit (in presenting themselves) the people’s national defense foundation. The stronger the people, the happier they are, the stronger their health, then the stronger our national defense will be for a long time to come. I would like to emphasize that in developing the country, the Royal Government does not look at only one side. We look at the whole forest […] While trying to resolve peacefully and legally, at the same time, we must strengthen each tree, strengthen all sectors, especially the education and health sectors, which are collectively called social affairs […]
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(11) The victories of idol athletes encouraged the hearts of Cambodian teenagers
In general, evaluating the effectiveness of education, training and coaching programs is not limited to the number of athletes or players we produce, but is mainly determined by the actual results achieved in competitions, whether national or international […] We must compare the quality of our training and education programs with other countries’ […] Despite the small budget we had, I am proud of the achievements and successes of our athletes who represent our country […] When we hosted the 32nd SEA Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games, Cambodia prepared well and won 282 medals, exceeding expectations […] The victories of athletes who are idols in each sport have encouraged and strengthened the hearts of Cambodian teenagers […] Although Cambodia joined the competition late, the training budget is not as high as others, we prove that we can do it […] Good health is the goal. I would like to commend the provinces and capitals for preparing places for citizens to exercise […] which will make our citizens healthier and prone to less diseases. Being in chronic illness is a heavy burden on the family and the individual, who has to spend money on medicine and health care […]./.