thursday, may 13, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3662 / 4000 RIEL FORMER TV HOST EXPORT OF CASSAVA, LATE INCENTIVES IN ACCUSES TYCOON CASHEW, MANGO TO INDONESIA TORMENT OF RAPE ATTEMPT VIETNAM RISES 149% FRONT-LINE WORKERS national – page 5 business – page 6 world – page 10 Sustainable local firms get avenue for tie-ups May Kunmakara Delivering the event’s open- ing remarks, CDC secretary- AMBODIA, with sup- general Sok Chenda Sophea port from the World said SD2 will better equip in- Economic Forum ternational investors to seize (WEF), on May 12 investment opportunities and launchedC the Supplier Data- strike partnerships with suit- base with Sustainability able domestic companies. Dimensions (SD2) database, “We hope that investors and the first of its kind, to provide foreign firms will see that Cam- information on the sustaina- bodia is creating a welcoming bility operations of domestic investment climate, while be- companies. SD2 will serve as a ing committed to responsible key platform linking interna- and sustainable business. tional and domestic firms that “As a relatively small coun- invest in the Kingdom or are try, Cambodia can set itself seeking new partnerships. apart by being a pioneer in fa- An in-person and virtual cilitating sustainable invest- ceremony was hosted by the ment,” he said. “We invite all Council for the Development investors to use SD2 and find of Cambodia (CDC) and WEF qualified domestic partners.” Power boost to commemorate the launch, Matthew Stephenson, a Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) engineers on a boom lift perform service checks on a utility pole in a red zone of Meanchey sTORY > 4 district’s Stung Meanchey commune on Tuesday. YOUSOS APDOULRASHIM which CDC noted will be es- policy and community lead pecially advantageous for for International Trade and domestic suppliers that can Investment at WEF, said at provide quality goods and the launch that the database services. will be a tool for international “The database aims to both firms that wish to invest or do Gov’t concerned over variants facilitate investment and business in Cambodia. contribute to significant de- “Foreign firms that seek to Mom Kunthear tion in Cambodia is now differ- variant – also known as SARS- When the 20 February out- velopment impact. Domestic follow ESG [environmental, ent than it was last year because CoV-2 B.1.1.7. The UK variants break began, the situation suppliers can register their social and corporate gover- A TOTAL of 122 cases of the the variant mutations are more were originally detected just escalated and the ministry was companies on the database, nance] principles can con- UK and Indian Covid-19 var- virulent and spread quickly. five days before the February worried and suspected that the thus promoting their busi- tract more with Cambodian iants have been detected in They are also reportedly more 20 community outbreak. new situation was triggered by nesses with potential inves- firms that operate sustainably, Cambodia, according to deadly than the original strain. On April 25, the highly trans- the new variants, she said. tors who regularly visit [the] and other Cambodian firms Ministry of Health spokes- She noted that from Febru- missible Indian variant B.1.617 “Through laboratory testing CDC website,” CDC said in an woman Or Vandine. ary 14 to May 9, Cambodia had was detected on a passenger announcement. Continued – page 6 Therefore, she said, the situa- detected 121 cases of the UK inbound to Cambodia. Continued – page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST May 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Authorities seize and destroy 12 tonnes of fake alcohol sanitiser

Voun Dara found and seized by officials from warehouses and phar- A HAUL of nearly 12 tonnes macies in Phnom Penh from of fake alcohol sanitisers were April 15 to May 5,” Oun said, destroyed on May 12 after offi- adding that opportunists pro- cials from the Ministry of Com- duced the fake items to sell as merce’s General Directorate of public demand was high. Consumer Protection, Com- Oun continued that fake petition and Fraud Repression sanitisers made with metha- (CCF) raided a number of mar- nol are toxic. Methanol not kets in Phnom Penh. only killed the virus, but also CCF director-general Phan affected the health of users Oun said commerce minister such as skin and eye irrita- Pan Sorasak had instructed all tion, headaches and death officials to increase quality con- when mixed with ethanol. trol of alcohol sanitisers sold The directorate called on all and distributed nationwide. wholesale and retail sellers, Oun said that on May 11, offi- owners of pharmacies and cials destroyed fake alcohol and markets and importers of alco- methanol sanitisers at a dump- hol sanitisers to conduct busi- The municipality will retain the three-colour-coded system that determines to what extent coronavirus restrictions are placed. information ministry site in Phnom Penh’s Dangkor ness ethically and put consum- district. The operation came ers’ health first before profits. with the approval of the mu- It also reminded the public nicipal court prosecutor. to check sanitisers for a trade- Colour-zone map till May 19 “These fake products were mark before purchasing. Mom Kunthear Russey Keo and Meanchey Kang and Prek Pnov are entire- zones, the capital’s 14 district districts contain red zones, ac- ly designated as yellow zones. administrations and municipal HE Phnom Penh Mu- cording to an announcement Restrictions for each colour- health department must imme- nicipal Administration signed by municipal governor coded zone remain the same diately cordon off the location, will retain through Khuong Sreng on May 12. as outlined in the previous bloc or business where cases May 19 the capital’s Some communes, villages decision dated May 5, accord- are found and collect samples three-colour-codedT system or even just blocs of buildings ing to the announcement. for Covid-19 testing. that determines to what extent in Dankgor, Kambol, Pram- Authorities reserve the right Anyone who suspects that coronavirus restrictions are pi Makara, Chbar Ampov, to close buildings where new they have Covid-19 or has placed on parts of the city. Tuol Kork, Por Sen Chey and coronavirus infections are de- been in contact with a prob- As more areas are down- Russey Keo districts retain tected in orange zones, and able or confirmed case of graded to the less-stringent their orange-zone status. collect specimens from people infection is required to un- yellow or orange categories, On the other hand, Cham- in the area for testing, it added. dergo quarantine, in accor- out of the capital’s 14 districts, karmon, Daun Penh, Sen Sok, Sreng also noted that if Covid- dance with the Ministry of only Tuol Kork, Por Sen Chey, Chroy Changvar, Boeung Keng 19 cases are detected in yellow Health’s guidelines. Officers prepare to destroy fake alcohol sanitisers. Ccf

I NVI TATION TO BID Cambodia Climate Change Alliance - Phase 3 Zhen Tai garment factory workers The Cambodia Climate Change Alliance - Phase 3 (CCCA3) is a multi-donor initiative funded by EU, Sweden, and UNDP with a comprehensive and innovative approach to address climate change claim non-payment of April wages in Cambodia. The overall objective is to strengthen national systems Long Kimmarita factory, enterprise and company two and a half weeks due to the age amounting to between and capacities to support the coordination and implementation of Cambodia’s climate change response, contributing to a greener, low owners to pay the wages for their pandemic. $200 and $300 a month. carbon, climate-resilient, equitable, sustainable and knowledge-based GARMENT factory workers have workers from April 1-4 and pro- When the factory reopened, He said that the workers had society. The specific objective is to contribute to the implementation of demanded that their employer, vide allowances to their workers the workers and their union received only $100 for their the Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023. Zhen Tai garment factory, pay during the lockdown. submitted a joint letter to the work in the first two weeks of them a portion of their monthly The owners were also factory on May 11 to ask that April and salaries for week three The CCCA3 now invites sealed bids from eligible and qualified bidder for: wages and their Khmer New encouraged to provide addi- the factory pay them their sala- and four of April – during which Year holiday bonus for the peri- tional assistance to their work- ries for April 1-13 and pay them the factory was suspended – will Qty od when Phnom Penh and Kan- ers to the best of their ability their Khmer New Year holiday be paid on May 14. No. Item Description (Set) dal province’s Takmao town had on a humanitarian basis to bonus and benefits during the “The labour ministry called 1 Solar power system for referral hospital and 10-11 been in lockdown. show solidarity and a commit- April 15-30 lockdown. on the factory to pay the money health centers The workers say they have ment to social responsibility Kim Sokhen, the president of according to the best of its abil-  Solar PV size: 10kWp been paid less than 50 per during a difficult period. the Cambodian Workers’ Spirit ity. But during this lockdown  Deep cycle battery size: 19.2kWh cent of their total salaries for However, the 1,700 workers Union, told The Post on May 12 our workers experienced great  Inverter off grid hybrid MPP, Electric box, their work in the first two of Zhen Tai garment factory in that in mid-April the workers difficulties. When receiving their ATS-63A-2P weeks of April. Kouk Khleang commune of had not been paid the 50 per second paychecks, some of  Installation: PV cable, AC cable, battery In April, the Ministry of Labour Sen Sok district say they have cent of their total salaries which them did not get even a single cable, battery rack, PVC trunk, other and Vocational Training advised been suspended from work for they usually received, on aver- riel and some others got just 400 Each system will power at least one fridge and riel,” Sokhen said, adding that 10 lights/fans the workers had warned the fac- 2 Solar Water Pump System 9-10 tory that they would protest by  Solar PV size: 5kWp boycotting overtime work.  Deep cycle battery size: 9.6kWh A worker named Seng Kunt-  Inverter off grid hybrid MPP, Electric box, hear said he hoped that the fac- ATS-63A-2P tory side would meet the work-  Installation: PV cable, AC cable, battery ers’ demands so that they would cable, battery rack, PVC trunk, other earn enough to support them- Interested qualified eligible bidders are invited to submit a sealed selves as the salary they received envelope of completed bidding documents which available to in April was simply not enough. download a softcopy as in the http://ncsd.moe.gov.kh/tenders-jobs Sa Bung, a legal officer at the or contact the Department of Climate Change with requirement factory, told The Post that the fac- document as following. tory had followed the law and the decision by the labour min- Bids must be delivered to the address provided in the contact details at istry as well as the basic principle or before 5:00 PM, 03 June 2021. Late bids will be rejected. that the amount workers would receive for April would depend The Department of Climate Change (DCC), the General Secretariat of the National Council for Sustainable Development (GSSD), c/o on how much work they did. Ministry of Environment (MoE) “In general, the factory always Morodok Techo Building, Lot 503, Tonle Bassac, Chamkarmon, follows the ministry’s guidance. Phnom Penh, Cambodia I personally cannot respond to Tel: (+855) 92 46 95 33 / 69 42 44 63 their request, but let’s wait and E-mail: [email protected] see what the situation is when Website: http://ncsd.moe.gov.kh the factory opens for work Workers at Zhen Tai garment factory. facebook tomorrow,” he said. THE PHNOM PENH POST May 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Over 50 homes ready Ministry to integrate BeiDou for veterans in Pursat

Voun Dara “Currently, building houses system into transport sector and infrastructure here is car- THE Pursat Provincial Admin- ried out carefully by stake- Lay Samean istration said 58 of 164 houses holders. It is to make sure that for Cambodian veterans have they are ready as soon as pos- HE China Great Wall been built on social land con- sible and give the Cambodian Industry Corporation cessions in Prangil commune’s veterans’ families a place to (CGWIC) is prepar- Say village in Phnom Kravanh stay,” said Kim. ing to open an office district. The homes are ready He said that besides building inT Cambodia aimed at pro- for veterans and their families houses, the Ministry of Rural moting the use of nativation to move in, it said. Development and Pursat pro- system in vehicles as a safety Prime Minister Hun Sen and vincial governor Mao Thonin measure across the ASEAN his wife Bun Rany provided helped build infrastructure for transport sector. $500,000 for construction as veterans. In a video conference with CG- many veterans need shelter, “Samdech Techo [Hun Sen] WIC management on May 11, it said. and Samdech Kittipritbandit Minister for Public Works and On May 9, Cambodian Vet- [Bun Rany] have always urged Transport Sun Chanthol said the erans Association vice-pres- authorities to support veter- firm had succeeded in officially ident and secretary-general ans, so the mostly elderly and launching the BeiDou naviga- Kun Kim inspected the houses disabled veterans can live a tion satellite system which pro- and infrastructure in the area. good life in a peaceful society vides global coverage. He said the Pursat Veterans that comes from their dedi- He said the ministry is ready Association requested assis- cation,” Kim said, urging all to cooperate in promoting the tance to address the hardships working groups to pay atten- use of the BeiDou system in of about 600 families of veter- tion to the construction of the Cambodia for the benefit of ans in the province. village. the commercial transporta- tion sector and that he also plans to raise this topic at the Public works minister Sun Chanthol during a video conference with CGWIC management. transport ministry ASEAN Transport Ministers’ Meeting and other meetings Public works and transport the year. But now it is still in the Vimean said that Beidou which Cambodia will host in spokesman Kong Vimean discussion phase,” he said, add- system will give new life to the November 2021 in Siem Reap. told The Post that two techni- ing that the navigation system economic and social develop- Chanthol requested that cal teams were studying the focused on cross-border trans- ment of Cambodia, in line with CGWIC speed up installation details of the project, while a port within ASEAN, meaning the government’s rectangular of the 550 BeiDou system so representative from CGWIC commercial transport and not strategy and China’s Belt and that the ministry can gain ex- said their office in Cambodia general transport. Road Initiative international perience with it and have a would open later this year. According to the ministry, development strategy. firmer basis for promoting its “The [BeiDou] project is the Beidou system can help CGWIC signed a Memoran- use in Cambodia. still under discussion with the to reduce accidents, reduce dum of Understanding on “All of the neighbouring technical team and it needs traffic jams, prevent speeding Beidou GPS, Remote Sens- countries in ASEAN will be some more time. According to and help track vehicles that ing and Road Map System in interested in using this [navi- the plan, we will open an office are not entering the weighing Cambodia on November 25, gation] system,” he said. in Cambodia before the end of stations as required. 2020, he said. The homes are ready for veterans and their families to move in. supplied

Invitation for Bids Construction Project Kitchen Combine Storage & Stove and Eating Hall

BACKGROUND:  The bidders should submit bidding documents to Plan Plan International Cambodia is currently operating the 3rd Country International Cambodia, Program Unit Office - Siem Strategic Plan (FY16-FY21). The 3rd Country Strategic Plan was Reap or E-mail by deadline of submission of offers on th developed based on a child rights situation analysis, which 9 June 2021, 2.00PM. Late submissions will be rejected. assessed the root causes and gaps at household, community,  Bid must be accompanied by a bid security, in an acceptable district and national levels which result in children’s rights being (Bank Guarantee) form of 2% of the bid amount, and must violated or unfulfilled. Based on this analysis, five strategic be submitted sealed separately within the financial original programs were prioritized and focused on in the next five years, document. and those country core program include: Early Childhood Care  and Development (ECCD), Child Protection, Water, Sanitation All physical submissions must be submitted in one signed and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, and Education including TVET. original, marked “original”, and two copies signed and marked “copy”. In case of discrepancies, information in the Plan International Cambodia wants to invite all interested and “original” shall prevail on “copy”. eligible contractors to participate in bidding of the following Construction Project of Kitchen Combine Storage & Stove and  The bid shall be sealed and vividly marked with the title of the A boy has his samples taken for a Covid-19 test in Phnom Penh. hean rangsey Eating Hall. construction bid title “FY21-IFB001 Construction Project of Kitchen Combine Storage & Stove and Eating Hall.”

# Type of Construction Work Required Number of Unit  The bidder should have at least three years of experience Vandine: No reason to in this type of construction and successfully completed at 1 Kitchen Combine Storage & Stove 126 units least two projects as a prime contractors with the nature and complexity similar to our projects. be happy as May cases 2 Eating Hall 10 units  The Standard Form of Performance Security acceptable to the Plan International Cambodia shall be Insurance Interested eligible contractors shall provide written eclipse April infections Guarantee and shall be limited to Ten (10) percent of the application with the following legal document: Contract Price. Continued from page 1 id-19 cases – all but three of  Business license defining the legal status and renewal which were linked to the Febru- for this physical year. Plan International Cambodia, Country Office Block A, 4th Floor, Room 411, Phnom Penh Center, Corner of we have confirmed that the ary 20 outbreak – 369 recoveries  Legal registration with Ministry of Commerce of Kingdom Sihanouk Blvd and Sothearos Street, variant B.1.1.7 is in Cambodia. and five more deaths. of Cambodia and with relevant ministries. But only one case of B.1.617 “To tell you the truth there’s Sangkat Tonle Basac, Khan Chamkarmorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia has been discovered and it was no reason to be happy yet. Do  Evidence of settlement of current tax, registration for VAT imported. Now the patient has not forget that whenever the and TIN certificate. Plan International Cambodia, Program Unit Office - Siem Reap recovered. The Indian variant number of daily infections Road No. 6, Taphul village, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap has not yet spread in Cambo- appears to decrease, what we BID REQUIREMENTS & GUIDE province Tel: (855) 63 218 185 dia, only the B.1.1.7 variant really have to watch for is  A complete set of bid documents in hard copy can be currently,” she said. whether the overall number of obtained from Plan International Cambodia, Program Unit For question about the construction & project, Citing the World Health infections for May is less than Office - Siem Reap during working hours (7:30AM-5:00PM) Health Organisation, Vandine that for April. or from this Link: please contact: Tel: (855) 17 926 552, (855) 12 682 083 said that up to 70 new variants “If the number of cases in https://www.bongthom.com/job_detail/invitation_for_ had been detected from April May has not decreased and is bids_kitchen_combine_stor_10124.html 27 to May 4 around the world. higher than that in April, then For question about bidding, please contact:  All interested bidders are invited join the Tender Tel: (855) 17 324 242 “This new variant presents a the outbreak in Cambodia Briefing meeting that will be held on 17th May 2021 at difficulty for us all. We must not has not subsided. The Covid- 2:00PM via Microsoft Team through this link: E-mail: [email protected] let our guard down,” she said. 19 situation in Cambodia is https://bit.ly/3vY4DhC [email protected] Separately, the ministry on still of great concern,” Vand- May 12 reported 472 more Cov- ine said. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Quarterly electricity bills for Group all set to tackle M’kiri forestry crimes Ry Sochan larger clearing. So, we must consumers in red zones: EdC strengthen our forces to pre- MONDULKIRI provincial gov- vent such crimes. We let dis- Lay Samean ernor Svay Sam Eang urged trict joint forces lead the op- officials and local authorities eration to search for people HE state-run Elec- to intensify efforts to prevent behind the crime,” he said. tricite du Cambodge forest crimes and illegal log- Kreung Tola, a coordinator (EdC) announced ging as these activities have for the provincial Indigenous that from May increased. People Network, told The Post onwardT it would issue elec- Sam Eang convened a on May 11 that forestry crime tricity bills once every three meeting on May 11 to assign in Mondulkiri had persisted months to consumers in the a working group to execute and timber had been trans- red zones or lockdown areas existing measures to prevent ported out by luxury cars to as EdC agents could not deliv- forest and natural resources avoid catching the authori- er the bills in person. crimes and illegal logging. ties’ attention. EdC director-general Keo The meeting was attended “In Mondulkiri, [law en- Rottanak told The Post that by six deputy governors, com- forcement] happens like straw EdC would take this tempo- manders from the three branch- fire. Thus, law enforcement at rary measure until the gov- es of the armed forces, directors the local level is piecemeal. ernment lifts the lockdown. of relevant departments and It is not proper law enforce- “We could not enter all the governors of five districts. ment, so we can see that for- red zones as some of them Deputy provincial governor estry crimes still occur. Defor- are still considered risky … In Cheak Meng Heang told The estation is still happening. doing so, our brothers and sis- Post on May 11 that the work- “But when people cut down ters will not have to pay a high ing group would support the trees for rice fields to feed price for electricity,” he said. existing district and provin- their families, they will be Rottanak explained that cial committees. caught every day,” he said. from 10 kilowatt hours Meng Heang said when a (kWh) per month and under crime such as active defor- it would cost 380 riel ($0.095) estation was in progress, au- per kWh. From 11kWh to thorities could arrest the per- 50kWh it costs 480 riel. From petrators, seize evidence and 51 kWh to 200 kWh it costs Electricity boxs are seen at a red zone in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. Heng Chivoan send the case to court. 610 riel. From 201 kWh and He said once forest land over it costs 730 riel. consumption as usual, as op- pay, they can pay it later,” he workers and migrant workers has been encroached, au- “EdC could not discount posed to implementing an said, adding it does not mean or students staying in rented thorities would prohibit electricity costs during the average billing method. that those who have not paid units,” Rottanak said. people entering the area or lockdown because the costs “EdC has no choice but to their bills will have electric- In response to a request by build structures. Authorities were set, and the state made temporarily release the bills ity service cut off. Prime Minister Hun Sen, the would search for and catch Mondulkiri provincial governor up for the losses already,” he once every three months “We have no plans to cut Phnom Penh Water Supply Au- perpetrators and build a case Svay Sam Eang urged officials said. to those customers. If they off the electricity in the red, thority on May 8 decided not against them. and local authorities to intensify Rottanak affirmed that have the ability to pay it, we orange and yellow zones, es- to charge for water for three “There has been small- efforts to prevent forest crimes and illegal logging as these electricity bills would be cal- calculate it accordingly. But pecially brothers and sisters months to workers and stu- scale logging for a long time activities have increased. Mondulkiri culated based on monthly if they still lack the means to who run small businesses or dents in the lockdown areas. in the forest. But now we see Provincial Administration

ANNOUNCEMENT UNDP is the leading United Nations organi- ‘Jealous’ husband sets house alight, zation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with killing pregnant woman, four kids our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting Khouth Sophak Chakrya solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or THE fire that killed a pregnant follow at @UNDP. woman and her four children in Kampong Chhnang province Request for Proposal: Provision of Creating an Accessible on May 9 turns to be a murder allegedly committed by the hus- App for NDSP2 Monitoring & band, according to the NGO Evaluation System and Disability Child Protect Unit (CPU). Information Referral System. The woman, who was three months pregnant, and her four Deadline : 18 May 2021 by 03:00 pm, children aged 3 to 9 were killed Cambodia time when her house filled with sec- Download Link : ond-hand cloths caught fire in https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice. Boribor district’s Khun Rang commune. cfm?notice_id=78431 On May 11, the CPU’s Foren- sic Services Team in coopera- Proposal submission address: tion with the Ministry of Interi- https://etendering.partneragencies.org or’s Forensic Department and Kompong Chhnang provincial Business Unit code: KHM10 and Event ID: KHM42875 police launched a probe into the incidents and determined Request for Proposal: Expert consulting team for Poverty that it was foul play. CPU said Nun Sareth, 38, Mapping with Big Data and Arti cial will now be referred to the Intelligence Project (Re-advertised) Kompong Chhnang Court on Deadline : 19 May 2021 by 03:00 pm, five counts of murder. The woman, who was three months pregnant, and her four children aged 3 to 9 were killed when her house filled with second-hand cloths caught fire in Boribor district’s Khun Rang commune. police, cpu Cambodia time “It was clear from the initial forensic examination of both Virtual Pre-Bidding Meeting: 17 May 2021 at 04:00pm, the deceased and crime scene commitment of all the inves- They then questioned Sareth four children,” Vuthy said. Cambodia Time that something very wrong tigators and forensic experts using psychological methods. Sareth is now in police cus- https://undp.zoom.us/j/83759821401 had occurred at the premises that we were able to gather suf- After three days of interroga- tody before being sent to court and the defendants’ account of ficient evidence to ensure this tion, the suspect confessed for further legal procedures. Download Link : how the fire started and what individual was prosecuted for that he had caused the fire. Meanwhile, King Norodom https://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice. happened simply did not make this heinous crime,” he added. “According to the hus- Sihamoni and Queen Mother cfm?notice_id=78460 sense,” said James McCabe, the McCabe said there was solid band’s answers, the fire was Norodom Monineath also CPU’s director of operations. evidence to support a convic- not caused by an electrical donated some assistance to “This is a heinous case that tion against him. malfunction or gas explosion the family of the perished, in- Proposal submission address: has affected us all, the loss of Deputy provincial police while cooking. It was a pre- cluding 50kg rice, tent, mos- https://etendering.partneragencies.org so many young lives. I want chief Pol Vuthy said the po- meditated murder. He was quito net, clothes, canned to thank everyone involved in lice and CPU investigated the jealous of his wife and that led fish, noodles and four million Business Unit code: KHM10 and Event ID: KHM42874 this investigation; it was only crime scene and the back- to violence, setting fire to the riel ($1,000), according the through the dedication and ground of the dead woman. house, and killing his wife and Ministry of Information. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Further unemployment benefits on the way for garment, tourism sectors

Lay Samean ments, they have to take their IDs and the phone that received THE Ministry of Labour and the messages to the nearest Vocational Training has Wing agency. There are no serv- announced the provision of the ice charges for the payments. 60th round of unemployment Cambodian Labour Confed- benefits for over 5,000 workers eration president Ath Thon in the garment and tourist sec- said the continuation of the tors affected by the pandemic. payments to unemployed In a notice on May 11, the workers was a good policy, but ministry said the provision of that the government should the unemployment benefits is consider providing such pay- for 5,262 workers at 29 facto- ments to all workers in the ries and enterprises in the gar- locked down areas. ment and tourist sectors who “What the government used to had their employment con- provide for the workers has tracts suspended. helped workers partially. But now Electronic payments service a major challenge is for workers provider Wing will send SMS in the red zones,” he said. messages about the govern- The government issued a ment payments to the worker’s directive on May 12 providing phone numbers listed with social security cash to low-in- their employers, according to come people in the lockdown the notice. areas, particularly for those The ministry said the pay- who have tested positive for Pich Rita, formerly a TV presenter and Miss Grand Cambodia contestant, shows up at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court. facebook ments will be paid in riel and Covid-19 or who have a family were based on the number of member with the virus. days of the employee’s con- The government has already tract suspension. Each worker delivered some Covid-19 relief would receive 60,750 riel ($15) packages and some money to Legal battle after ex-TV host for contracts suspended from vulnerable families, poor peo- seven to 10 days; 121,500 riel ple and workers in those areas. for contracts suspended from The government has also 11 to 20 days; and 162,000 riel decided to provide 160,000 riel claims Oknha’s rape attempt for contracts suspended from to each worker who is infected 21 days to a month or more. with Covid-19. But the worker Long Kimmarita ed May 11, Pich Rita had allegedly used yer, confirmed to The Post that his team The ministry reminded must work in a factory or a knife to attack Sear on two occasions was investigating these cases first before workers that the bank would enterprise in the garment, RIME Minister Hun Sen’s vol- and had stolen his iPhone 12 on May 4 in deciding whether to provide legal aid to transfer the payments back to footwear or handbag manu- unteer lawyers are investigat- Phnom Penh’s Tuol Kork district. Pich Rita. the government if they failed facturing sectors in Phnom ing accusations made by My TV According to Pich Rita’s complaint, Sear Pon Putborei, director of legal aid at to pick up their payments Penh, Kandal province’s Tak- presenter Mean Pich Rita that ty- had tried to persuade her to have sexual the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, said the within 10 days of the SMS mes- mao town or Preah Sihanouk Pcoon Heng Sear, who holds the honorific intercourse with him, saying he had a gun ministry had sought support from the sage notifications. province, according to the oknha, had attempted to rape her. with him. National Police to investigate the case In order to get their pay- directive. The two parties are currently filing She said she managed to escape and further. The ministry will also provide le- counter suits. Pich Rita, 20, sued the ty- did not tell anyone about it – including gal aid to Pich Rita. coon, 60, for attempted rape while Sear her family – until she was summoned by “There are two complaints and we don’t sued her for theft with aggravating cir- the Tuol Kork commune police, at which know the truth yet,” Putborei said. cumstances. point she made the allegations against Neither Sear nor Pich Rita could be Pich Rita was a TV presenter and for- Sear and filed a counter-suit. reached for comment. mer Miss Grand Cambodia contestant “If I hadn’t been able to open the car The public reaction to these allegations and Sear is the owner of a glass company. door, he would have raped me in the has varied, but many artists and other Pich Rita was placed in pre-trial deten- car or driven me to a guesthouse. I was women generally are voicing their support tion on May 11 following the complaint panicking and I was afraid that he would for Pich Rita and initiating a campaign on- from Sear. shoot me,” she said. line to stop violence against women. However, on May 11, Pich Rita filed her She has demanded compensation of Ministry of Justice spokesperson Kim own complaint saying Sear had attempt- $100,000 for attempted rape with ag- Santepheap said it was too early to draw ed to rape her. gravating circumstances and another a conclusion, saying the ministry is keep- According to the detention warrant is- $10,000 for legal services. ing an eye on the case and called for the Garment workers leave from a factory in Phnom Penh on March 18, sued by Investigating Judge Koy Sao dat- Ky Tech, Hun Sen’s chief volunteer law- public to remain calm. 2021. Heng Chivoan K Kong families protest encroachment on state land

Voun Dara efits of the fishing community. “If this is state land and People also demand a response authorities have conspired to MORE than 100 families living from experts and authorities create legal documents to pri- in Chroy Svay commune in to make the problem known vatise it, then this is illegal Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel and find the intruders so they because the land belongs to district protested in front of can be punished according to the state. Before it is handed the district hall to demand that the law,” he said. over to the private sector or an authorities keep 63ha of low- District governor Chea individual, there must be a land forest as state property Chankanha said he had met sub-decree from the govern- and take legal action against residents and explained the ment to this effect,” he said. forest encroachers. problem to them, and that the According to community A community representative district administration would representatives, the land is a told The Post on condition of investigate the issue. mangrove forest and a habitat anonymity that over 13ha of “In the past, we had not for a diverse range of flora and the forest in the commune’s received information from fauna that has improved peo- Chroy Svay Khang Keurt vil- local officials, so to resolve this ple’s livelihoods for many gen- lage had been illegally cleared issue we need to study it in erations. by unidentified individuals detail. We are working with the According to the community early this year. local authorities,” he said. representative, the govern- People in the commune had Provincial coordinator for ment revoked the Chan Rath already protested many times rights group Adhoc Thong Group’s development rights at the village and commune Chandara said that early this for the 63ha in 2014 and placed halls about the encroachment year, there were many cases of the land under the jurisdiction but local officials have yet to encroachment on state land, of the Ministry of Environ- take any action. and the case in Chroy Svay ment. The government has “People continue to demand People living in Chroy Svay commune in Koh Kong province’s Sre Ambel district protested in front of the commune may involve a con- since then granted use of the district hall to demand that authorities keep 63ha of lowland forest as state property and take legal action that the land be kept as state spiracy to grab state land for land to the people in Chroy against forest encroachers. supplied property forever for the ben- private ownership. Svay commune. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,090 1.2086 6.441 108.76 4.1255 1.3286 31.22 0.7805 1.2134 1.4138

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: May 12, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,380 16,300 16,480 16,300 2 GTI 4,600 4,600 4,640 4,500 3 PAS 14,700 14,700 14,860 14,580 4 PEPC 3,370 3,380 3,400 3,310 5 PPAP 15,720 16,700 16,700 15,400 6 PPSP 2,160 2,200 2,210 2,130 7 PWSA 8,080 7,980 8,100 7,820 SD2 reflects two years Exports of cassava, cashew, of CDC-WEF teamwork

Continued from page 1 teristics of selected suppliers. mango to Vietnam up 149% “There are six sustainabil- may shift their operations to be ity dimensions that registered Thou Vireak increasingly sustainable to companies can highlight – and attract, and qualify for, such verify – in the database: quality ambodia exported more than contracts. standards and certifications; 1.11 million tonnes of cassava, ca- “Other countries may wish responsible supply chains; shew nuts and fresh mangoes to to consider also adding sus- gender and inclusion; envi- Vietnam in the first three months tainability dimensions to ronmental sustainability; em- ofC 2021, up by nearly 149 per cent despite their existing suppliers’ data- ployee capacity building; and the two countries tightening their borders bases, long considered a key employee care,” it said. over fears of the spread of Covid-19. tool to facilitate investment,” The government is ex- Exports of fresh cassava, cassava chips, Stephenson said. pected to approve the long- cashew nuts and fresh mangoes amount- SD2 is managed by CDC and awaited new Law on Invest- ed to 242,750 tonnes, 336,151.56 tonnes, was developed as part of the ment this year, which aims 85,687 tonnes and 446,834 tonnes, re- “Investment Facilitation for to modernise and increase spectively, up by 85 per cent, 82 per cent, Sustainable Development in the productivity of local in- 933.84 per cent and 267.13 per cent over Cambodia” (IFSDC) project, dustries and develop greater January-March 2020, the Ministry of Agri- which CDC launched early in connectivity in the regional culture, Forestry and Fisheries reported. 2019 aiming to collect practi- and global supply chain. Minister Veng Sakhon said this rise re- cal, on-the-ground insights on Cambodia introduced the flects the results of the hard work put in countries’ experiences with in- Investment Law in 1994 and by farmers and stakeholders who have vestment facilitation measures. amended it in 2003. implemented the government’s agri- CDC began its collabora- In 1995, just one year after cultural policy to boost production and Cambodia exported over 1.5 million tonnes of cassava products to international markets in the tive journey with WEF in May the law’s enactment, the total ensure food security and a healthy food first four months of 2021, up from 1.3 million in the same period last year, according to data 2019 to carry out the IFSDC amount of investment ap- from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Heng Chivoan economy. project, with the Cambodia proved by the CDC totalled “During the ongoing global spread of are declining currently due to the diver- Cambodia exported $1.148 billion in Partnership for Sustainable some $2.3 billion. By 2008, cu- Covid-19, the agricultural sector in Cam- sion of exports from Thailand to Vietnam. merchandise to Thailand in 2020, down Agriculture’s (CPSA) support. mulative approved investment bodia has increased the export of agri- We see that exports of agricultural prod- by 49.49 per cent year-on-year, and im- In May-June 2019, WEF and value had surged to $10.89 cultural products to neighbouring coun- ucts such as paddy rice, cassava and corn ported $6.089 billion, down by 14.80 per CPSA conducted expert inter- billion, of which the tourism tries,” he said. to Vietnam have increased significantly.” cent from 2019, Thai Ministry of Com- views with more than 50 stake- sector accounted for $8.77 bil- Cambodia Chamber of Commerce vice- Battambang provincial Department of merce figures show. holders to better encapsulate lion, services $1.29 billion and president Lim Heng noted that Thailand Commerce director Kim Hout said the On the other hand, trade between Cam- how to increase investment agriculture $106.73 million. and Vietnam are the main markets for Covid-19 pandemic had led to a dramatic bodia and Vietnam was worth $3.020 bil- flows into the Kingdom, in As of December 31, 2019, Cambodian raw materials. drop in Cambodian agricultural exports lion in 2020, inching down by 1.1 per cent terms of quantity and quality. the cumulative value of ap- “Most agricultural products are export- to Thailand in the beginning of the year, from $3.054 the previous year, according to Following two workshops proved investments had bal- ed to Vietnam and Thailand, which are im- but noted that activity had shown a slight Cambodian commerce ministry statistics. and further consultations later looned to $85.88 billion. portant markets for Cambodian farmers rebound over the past two months. Cambodia exported $385.79 million that year, creating SD2 was In 2019 alone, the CDC ap- because we lack the capital to help to buy He said the larger part of Cambodian worth of goods to Vietnam in 2020, surging identified as one of the most proved $9.40 billion worth of from farmers for stockpiling,” he said. agricultural production is exported to by 14.88 per cent from $335.82 million in important project deliverables. investment projects, of which However, shipments of the these three Thailand, where prices fluctuate accord- 2019, and imported $2.634 billion, down According to CDC, besides mainland Chinese investors ac- cash crops to Thailand saw a four per cent ing to demand in the Thai market. by 3.10 per cent from $2.718 billion. “general information on the counted for $2.75 billion. Hong year-on-year drop in January-March, ac- “Cross-border trade activity in Battam- Cambodia’s trade deficit with Vietnam re- company – such as its products Kong ranked second at $912.55 cording to ministry statistics. bang province with Thailand is gradually duced to $2.248 billion, marking a nearly six and services, the database illus- million, while Japan took third Heng said: “I believe exports to Thailand recovering now,” Hout said. per cent drop from $2.382 billion in 2019. trates the sustainability charac- with $298.84 million. Oz’s debt-fuelled economy ‘roaring back’ from Covid

Australia will keep taking on record ally peak at A$980.6 billion (US$765 well as booming iron ore revenues due helping to fuel rising property and son. He is expected to call an election levels of debt as it spends its way to a billion) – or 41 per cent of GDP – in to higher prices and soaring demand stock prices. within the next 12 months. swift post-pandemic recovery, but the 2024-2025. from China. Unusually, the Coalition has aban- Analysts and economists largely country expects to keep its interna- Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Aus- Frydenberg said Australia still faced doned its traditional insistence on welcomed the budget, praising the tional borders closed for at least tralia was doing much better than global uncertainties, especially as the keeping spending low and achieving Coalition’s decision to focus on another year. initially feared and its economy was pandemic continues to wreak havoc surpluses. Instead, the Government increasing spending and protecting Delivering the federal budget on “roaring back to life”. around the world. But he said Aus- expects debt for this year to be A$161 jobs rather than worry about the spi- May 11 night, the ruling Coalition pre- “Australia is coming back,” he pro- tralia’s strong spending, including its billion, though this is about A$50 bil- ralling debt. sented an upbeat assessment of the claimed. “In the face of a once-in-a- scheme to pay employers to keep lion less than forecast. The Labor opposition said the budg- nation’s economic future, including century pandemic, the Australian workers hired during the slowdown Speaking to ABC News last night, et failed to support clean energy or plans for 4.25 per cent growth in gross spirit has shone through.” last year, had helped to boost employ- Frydenberg said: “In times of national measures to boost much-needed domestic product (GDP) next year The budget confirmed that the ment and keep the overall economy crises, there are no ideological con- wage growth. and a drop in unemployment to five country is rebounding from the pan- intact. straints.” “Our concern is that this govern- per cent, down from a 22-year high of demic much faster than expected. The Australia’s economy entered its first The budget’s big spending measures ment’s racked up A$1 trillion in debt and 7.5 per cent last year. nation’s coffers have benefited from recession in almost 30 years last year on rail and road projects, welfare and they don’t have enough to show for it,” But the rosy forecast is built on surging employment levels, which but is recovering fast. It is due to have tax relief for those on lower incomes Labor’s Treasury spokesman, Dr Jim mounting national debt, which is have led to extra tax revenues and grown by 1.25 per cent in the year to were seen as part of a pre-election Chalmers, told ABC News. THE STRAITS expected to keep rising and eventu- reduced need for welfare spending, as July. Interest rates are at record lows, plan by Prime Minister Scott Morri- TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Listed PPAP logs 14% Fintech fuels 2020 boom in falloff in 2020 profit Thou Vireak Bavy said: “2020 was the year Kingdom’s payment systems marked by the Covid-19 crisis, Stock-listed Phnom Penh but our business and opera- Thou Vireak Autonomous Port (PPAP) tions still showed good per- booked a profit of $9,860,875 formance, and remained prof- ayment systems in in 2020, a decrease of 14 per itable by introducing prompt Cambodia have seen cent compared to 2019 due to and timely response measures, remarkable strides in the severe Covid-19 blows to such as revising the 2020 plan, line with the evolution the regional and global implementing some necessary ofP financial technology (fin- economies. projects to serve business and tech) and significantly con- PPAP director-general Hei operations, and reducing tribute to the development Bavy revealed the figures at the unnecessary costs.” of the national economy, as state-owned river port opera- PPAP’s priority work plans for digital transactions witness a tor’s sixth annual general 2021 include a third-phase Covid-19 boom, the National assembly on May 5 via video expansion to the LM17 con- Bank of Cambodia (NBC) said link, without specifying which tainer terminal in Banteay Dek in the 2020 annual report on particular profit measure commune’s Kandal Loeu vil- the payment system. (gross, operating, net) he was lage of Kandal province’s Kien The central bank reported on referring to. Svay district to boost handling May 11 that payment systems Container throughput at the capacity to 500,000 TEUs per have offered substantial sup- port rose to 290,857 TEUs, or year, he said. port for economic develop- twenty-equivalent units, in PPAP will also set up satel- ment by providing an efficient 2020, an increase of 3.49 per lites at KM6 Container Termi- and secure financial infra- cent over the year before, he nal, UM2 Tonle Bet Terminal structure to facilitate transac- said. and Koh Roka Terminal in tions, as well as payments for A TEU is an inexact unit of Kampong Cham province; trade in goods and services, cargo capacity used in the ship- upgrade the TS3 Multipurpose and on financial markets. A user pays for her in-store purchase through a mobile payment app. The Covid-19 pandemic has helped ping industry roughly equiva- Terminal into an international “Payment systems provide accelerate the adoption of digital payments in Cambodia. supplied lent to a container with internal tourism port; incorporate a convenient, secure, fast and dimensions measuring about information systems; and affordable way to transfer tools, increasing the number The report reveals that Branches and ATMs are still 20 feet long, eight feet wide and adjust the prices of some serv- funds electronically among of possibilities, more broad- 21,363 transactions were available across the country 8.5 feet tall, or a volume rough- ices to attract more customers, economic agents, and have ly expanding the payment made through the Fast Pay- for cash transactions, he said. ly 38.5 cubic metres. he added. contributed to a more efficient network, and allowing rural ment system in the first half “In addition, we are also a central bank monetary supply. people to participate in pay- of 2020, up 373.68 per cent member of the [NBC-backed] “Through this infrastruc- ment services through official year-on-year. Bakong service, Retail Pay ture, the central bank’s pay- channels,” the report said. In January-June last year, and CSS systems, so custom- ment system can implement Officially launched by the 625,476 check transaction ers can make bank transac- open market operations, a NBC in October, the inter- were executed, a decrease of tions or inter-bank transac- key monetary policy tool to bank mobile payment plat- 5.92 per cent year-on-year, and tions with more than 20 other boost economic growth, and form – known as the “Bakong 144,464 credit transfers were financial institutions and can quickly monitor the li- System” – allows inter-bank made, an increase of 25.47 per banks,” Sony said. quidity of banking and finan- and inter-microfinance-insti- cent year-on-year, it said. According to the NBC’s annu- cial institutions as part of its tute (MFI) payments. Prasac Microfinance In- al report, total assets in Cambo- contribution to guarantee fi- In addition to the Cambo- stitution Ltd (Prasac) senior dia’s banks and MFIs reached nancial stability as well. dian Shared Switch (CSS) sys- vice-president Say Sony told $59.4 billion at the end of last “The payment system has tem, Retail Pay and Electronic The Post that his MFI’s clients year, up 15.7 per cent year-on- also made a significant con- Clearing System (ECS), the Ba- can now use Prasac Mobile year from the end of 2019. tribution to improving fi- kong System promotes secure and Internet banking to per- Loans in banks and MFIs nancial inclusivity by using and effective electronic pay- form cashless transactions on rose 14.8 per cent to $37.3 bil- financial technology in the ments in the financial sector, a daily basis, such as money lion as of the end of last year, Container throughput at the port rose to 290,857 TE Us, or twenty-equivalent development of new low- reduces operating costs and transfers, bill payments and while deposits rose 15.4 per units, in 2020, an increase of 3.49 per cent over the year before. cost payment services and boosts financial inclusion. loan repayments. cent to $33.8 billion. HENG CHIVOAN

New tech-firm coalition seeks $50B in US aid for Asian markets suffer further chip shortage response amid growing inflation fears A newly formed coalition of member firms are part of the technology firms on May 11 coalition. Fears about surging inflation having to be higher than it was this week and Wall Street has more than one per cent. Syd- called for $50 billion in US gov- “Leaders from a broad range continued to trouble Asian before,” said TwentyFour Asset plunged for two days, while ney, Singapore, Wellington, ernment aid to boost incen- of critical sectors of the US markets on May 12, with inves- Management CEO Mark Hol- observers warn an above- Mumbai and Bangkok all fell. tives for domestic semiconduc- economy, as well as a large and tors nervously awaiting crucial man. “This is inflation risk.” forecast reading on the con- Taipei’s tech-rich bourse tor manufacturing in the face bipartisan group of policymak- US price data later in the day The unease on trading floors sumer price index (CPI) on tumbled more than eight per of a deepening chip shortage. ers in Washington, recognise that could ramp up expecta- comes despite repeated Fed May 12 could spark another cent at one point as tech fears The Semiconductors in Amer- the essential role of semicon- tions the Federal Reserve (Fed) insistence that while it sees sharp sell-off. were compounded by news ica Coalition urged Congress to ductors in America’s current will taper its monetary policy inflation spiking owing to the “It’s all about inflation expecta- that Taiwan was imposing allocate funds for research and and future strength.” earlier than flagged. recovery and the low base of tions,” Priya Misra, of TD Securi- strict containment measures manufacturing, calling the The shortage has added to a Global equities have had a comparison last year, officials ties, said on Bloomberg TV. including the banning of large effort essential for economic supply crunch for the technol- torrid start to the week as trad- will not make any policy She said if the CPI report sig- gatherings over a cluster of and national security. ogy sector and a variety of ers bet that stimulus measures, adjustments such as winding nals “inflation is likely to be local infections. The coalition – which other manufacturing sectors the rollout of vaccines and the in their bond-buying or lift higher for a while, I think the The index pared a lot of the includes giants including including automotive as the reopening of businesses will interest rates yet. taper discussion will come losses but still finished down Apple, Microsoft, Google, Ama- economy emerges from a pan- fan a blockbuster recovery in The US central bank’s posi- back into the forefront and 4.1 per cent. zon, AT&T and Verizon and demic-induced slowdown. the world economy but bring tion is that it will not move then we can get a bigger inter- Hong Kong and Shanghai several dozen other firms – said “To address this problem in with it an explosion of spend- until it is happy unemploy- est rate move”. gained on bargain-buying. it seeks funding for the CHIPS the short term, government ing that will push costs through ment is under control and But CMC Markets analyst London rose as data showed for America Act, which was should refrain from interven- the roof. inflation is running hot for an Michael Hewson added that a the British economy contract- passed by lawmakers earlier ing as industry works to correct And with a range of com- extended period. jump of as much as 3.6 per ed in the first quarter but indi- this year but without funds the current supply-demand modities including copper, Tech firms – which boomed cent in the CPI “shouldn’t sur- cated signs of a healthy recov- appropriated.a imbalance causing the short- iron ore and lumber all surging last year as people were forced prise anybody with a rudimen- ery in March. Paris and “Semiconductors are the age,” the coalition said in a let- to records or multi-year highs, to stay home – have been at tary knowledge of base effects, Frankfurt were also well up. brains of the systems and ter to congressional leaders. those concerns are increasing the forefront of the sell-off as and looking at where com- Meanwhile, strategists said technologies that enable “But for the longer term, while observers said rising they are considered suscepti- modity prices were this time that while markets were under- America’s economic growth, robust funding of the CHIPS demand for employees is also ble to higher borrowing costs last year”. going some turbulence that national security, digital Act would help America build pushing up wage costs, adding owing to the potential effect Asian markets were broadly was to be expected after a infrastructure, and global the additional capacity neces- upward pressure to prices. on their future earnings and down for a second day. more than one-year rally and technology leadership,” said sary to have more resilient sup- “It’s not going to be that easy cash flow. Tokyo shed 1.6 per cent to with valuations considered John Neuffer, president and ply chains to ensure critical to pull eight million people off A big miss on US jobs crea- extend May 11’s more than high, while the outlook CEO of the Semiconductor technologies will be there when their sofas and back to work tion on May 7 had eased inf la- three per cent plunge, while remained upbeat owing to the Industry Association, whose we need them.” AFP without the price of doing that tion worries but they returned Seoul and Manila were also off economic recovery. AFP 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Property Affordable housing project S’pore condo resales climb to 11-year high to be completed by end-2021 in April, prices up 1.5% Hin Pisei Singapore’s private resale More buyers may have turned $100 million afforda- housing market remained to HDB resale flats instead of ble housing project in robust with the number of con- applying for BTO flats, leading Kandal province’s Tak- dominium units resold last to an increase in HDB resale mao town will be month hitting an 11-year high flat prices. Acompleted by the end of this as prices rose 1.5 per cent from In turn, this enabled sellers year, as the developer World- March. of the resale flats to afford an bridge Homes Co Ltd shifts Resale volume last month upgrade to private resale con- attention to other projects, jumped by 7.9 per cent to an dos, thus pushing up the prices according to its general man- estimated 1,993 units from of such real estate, he said. ager Yuk Sothirith. 1,847 units in March, repre- “The continuing disruption The development, the first of senting the highest monthly in the local construction indus- its kind in the Kingdom, broke volume since April 2010, try due to the pandemic would ground early in 2017 on 23ha according to flash data from fuel the demand for completed of land in Roka Khpos com- real estate portal SRX released HDB flats and private condo- mune’s Koh Kor village, just on May 11. miniums among owner-occu- 14km south of the Monivong Volumes last month were piers in the coming months,” Bridge in the capital. estimated to be 528.7 per cent he said. Formerly a commune in higher than in April last year, Mak expects prices for resale the province’s Sa’ang dis- and 125.2 per cent more than condos to rise between six and trict, Roka Khpos was incor- the five-year average volumes nine per cent this year. porated into Takmao town for the month of April. PropNex head of research after Prime Minister Hun Year-on-year, prices rose 5.8 and content Wong Siew Ying Sen signed a sub-decree on per cent over April 2020. said the demand for resale con- January 8, 2019. Month-on-month, the price dos will likely remain healthy, Sothirith told The Post on increase was across the board. as buyers may prefer ready May 12 that the project is A $100 million affordable housing project broke ground early in 2017 on 23ha of land in Roka Khpos Prices in the suburbs rose by properties in order to avoid the forging ahead, despite lock- commune’s Koh Kor village, just 14km south of the Monivong Bridge in the capital. Worldbridge Homes Co Ltd 1.7 per cent, while those in the uncertainty around comple- down restrictions keeping city fringe and city centre both tion delays. some of the workers away. housing projects. “We remain stressed that affordable hous- Penh and its outskirts. It’d be increased by 1.2 per cent. “In addition, the substantial Around 400-500 labourers willing to continue to work ing is in high demand. fitting to have more such in- Christine Sun, senior vice- price gap between new sale were on-site each day during with the government to invest He said the capital’s outer vestments, which sell at low president of research and ana- and resale properties may also the blockade. in future affordable housing districts make ideal locations prices, to give them stability lytics at OrangeTee & Tie, said encourage some buyers who “We will complete our con- developments for sale to low- to develop more of these proj- and their own accommoda- the resale market was propped have a tighter budget to look at struction soon, and now our and middle-income people.” ects, which would provide ac- tion,” Soknoeun said. up by a large proportion of the resale market,” she said. sales have reached more than The company has identified cess to affordable homes for As of the end of 2020, Cam- Housing Board (HDB) flat The highest transacted price 95 per cent,” he said. an even larger location for a their growing low- and mid- bodia had five affordable upgraders as 56.9 per cent of for a private resale unit last According to Sothirith, the new project, he said, declin- dle-income populations. housing development projects the last month’s resale volume month was S$13.8 million company has handed over ing to give details or further But multifaceted govern- comprising a total of 8,331 were in the suburbs. (US$10.4 million) at Leedon 823 houses to customers, and comment. ment involvement is required units, according to the Minis- Homes in the city fringes Residence in Bukit Timah, the remaining 1,634 homes Worldbridge Home Co Ltd to convince investors to get be- try of Land Management, Urban accounted for 23.7 per cent, according to SRX data. will be delivered by end-2021. is a subsidiary of the World- hind affordable housing proj- Planning and Construction. while the remaining 19.5 per In the city fringes, a unit at Homes range in price from Bridge Group, and has devel- ects, such as selling state land In 2014, Cambodia adopted a cent came from central Singa- The Meyerise in Meyer Road $25,000-$30,000. oped other major projects in to private companies at below- national policy to promote the pore. fetched the highest price of Sothirith revealed that the Phnom Penh, including The market prices, he pointed out. development of housing proj- “Many HDB flat owners have S$5.2 million, while in the out- development’s success had Bridge and The Peak. “There’s demand from ects. Cambodia will need an sold their flats in recent months side central region, the top spot motivated the company to in- Global Real Estate Associa- workers and students who’ve additional 50,000 homes a year and are searching for afforda- went to a S$3.2 million unit at vest in more such affordable tion president Sam Soknoeun come to reside in Phnom until 2030, the policy states. ble, completed homes. There- Ocean Park in East Coast fore, demand for resale homes Road. may continue to increase in the In its report, SRX noted that coming months since prices of the overall median capital gain new homes are rising in many last month was S$200,000, an Tax policies for VN property sector must locations and the supply of increase of S$20,500 as com- mass-market condominiums pared with March. remain limited,” Sun said. The capital gain or loss of a be carefully studied: Finance ministry She noted that the uncertain condo resale unit is calculated rental market have may also by comparing the current Tax policies for Vietnam’s real estate The association said it was necessary to tax use, income tax on transactions of prop- have driven some landlords to transacted price with the previ- sector must be carefully studied and the conversion of land-use purposes, which erty assets, registration fee and other fees. sell their units as it may still take ous transacted price of the introduced at the appropriate time to would help increase state budget revenue. The established tax collection policies some time for tenants, who are same unit. ensure feasibility and limit speculation, The proposal was raised in the context fully covered the process of forming, typically foreigners, to return to District 21 (Clementi/Upper according to the Ministry of Finance. of land price fever which has occurred in owning, using and transferring real Singapore and for the leasing Bukit Timah) posted the high- This was the ministry’s response to a many localities recently and was attrib- estate assets and encouraged organisa- market to recover fully. est median capital gain of proposal from the Ho Chi Minh City Real uted partly to speculation. tions and individuals to use property ERA Realty head of research S$486,250, while District 4 Estate Association that the government The ministry said the current tax policy assets with efficiency and contributed and consultancy Nicholas Mak (Sentosa/Harbourfront) posted should tax the conversion of agricultural system covering the real estate sector was to limiting speculation and preventing said the construction delays for the highest median capital loss and non-agricultural land to residential quite adequate, including the taxes and wasteful use of land, it said. Build-To-Order (BTO) flats may of S$54,880. THE STRAITS TIMES (SIN- land at a rate of about 15-20 per cent. agricultural land use, non-agricultural land Still, it was necessary to continue have seen a chain reaction. GAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK improving the tax policy system on the real estate sector, the ministry said, add- ing that the property sector was very huge and influential on the economy and required the participation and contribu- tion of many ministries, agencies and localities in making policies. The ministry stressed that careful con- sideration and evaluation must be given to making policies for the real estate sec- tor before submission to authorities for issuance at appropriate times to ensure feasibility and high consensus as well as contributing to limiting speculation. The ministry is studying international experiences in taxing the real estate sector and identifying problems in the tax poli- cy enforcement for amendments as part of efforts to implement the tax policy sys- Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance said that it was necessary to give careful consideration to any tax tem reform strategy in 2021-2030. VIET NAM Private home resale prices in Singapore rose 5.8 per cent last month policies on the country’s real estate sector. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK over April last year. THE STRAITS TIMES THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World NASA’s giant Webb Virus variant ravaging India telescope succeeds found in 44 countries WHO in key pre-launch test

HE World Health THE world’s largest and most cosmos than ever before. Organisation (WHO) powerful space telescope un- Scientists want to use the on May 12 said a vari- folded its giant golden mirror telescope to look back in time ant of Covid-19 for the last time on Earth on over 13.5 billion years ago behindT the acceleration of May 11, a key milestone before and see for the first time the India’s explosive outbreak has the $10 billion observatory is first stars and galaxies that been found in dozens of coun- launched later this year. formed, a few hundred mil- tries all over the world. The James Webb Space Tele- lion years after the Big Bang. The UN health agency said the scope’s 6.5m mirror was com- To do this, they need to de- B.1.617 variant of Covid-19, first manded to fully expand and tect infrared. The current pre- found in India in October, had lock itself into place, NASA mier space telescope, Hub- been detected in more than 4,500 said – a final test to ensure it ble, only has limited infrared samples uploaded to an open- will survive its 1.6-million-ki- capacity. access database “from 44 coun- lometre journey and is ready This is key because by the tries in all six WHO regions”. to discover the origins of the time the light from the first “And WHO has received re- Universe. objects reaches our tele- ports of detections from five Scott Willoughby of lead scopes, it has been shifted to- additional countries,” it said contractor Northrop Grum- wards the red end of the elec- in its weekly epidemiological man said: “It’s like building a tromagnetic spectrum as a update on the pandemic. Swiss watch at 40-feet-tall … result of the Universe extend- Outside of India, it said that and getting it ready for this ing the space between objects Britain had reported the larg- journey that we take into the as it expands. est number of Covid cases vacuum at minus 400 degrees Another key area will be caused by the variant. Fahrenheit [minus 240 Cel- the discovery of alien worlds. Earlier this week, the WHO sius], four times further than The first planets to orbit declared B.1.617 – which the Moon.” other stars were detected in counts three so-called sub- He was speaking at the the 1990s and there are now lineages with slightly different Covid variants are seen as more dangerous than the original version of the virus because they are either company’s spaceport in Re- more than 4,000 exoplanets mutations and characteristics more transmissible, deadly or able to get past some vaccine protections. AFP dondo Beach, in the US state that have been confirmed. – as a “variant of concern”. of California, from where the James Webb telescope pro- It was therefore added to Bamlanivimab, and also high- to 4,000 deaths each day. herence to public health and telescope will be shipped to gramme scientist Eric Smith the list containing three other lighted early lab studies indi- The new surge in cases has social measures”. French Guiana to be launched said Webb “has instrumenta- variants of Covid-19 – those cating “limited reduction in ravaged major cities, includ- “The exact contributions of on an Ariane 5 rocket, with tion that will propel this new first detected in Britain, Brazil neutralisation by antibodies”. ing the capital New Delhi and each of these factors on in- NASA targeting October 31 and exciting field into its next and South Africa. It stressed, though, that financial hub Mumbai, push- creased transmission in India for lift-off. epic of discovery”. The variants are seen as more “real-world impacts” on the ing hospitals to breaking point are not well understood.” Webb’s primary mirror is Scientists from 44 countries dangerous than the original ver- effectiveness of vaccines and leading to severe short- WHO stressed that so far, only made of 18 hexagonal seg- will be able to make use of sion of the virus because they against the variant for in- ages in oxygen and beds. 0.1 per cent of positive Covid ments coated with an ultra- the telescope, with proposals are either being more transmis- stance “may be limited”. “WHO found that resur- tests in India had been geneti- thin layer of gold to improve including using the infrared sible, deadly or able to get past WHO said the spread of gence and acceleration of cally sequenced and uploaded its reflection of infrared light. capabilities to penetrate the some vaccine protections. B.1.617, alongside other more Covid-19 transmission in In- to the GISAID database to iden- It will fly to space folded like supermassive black holes at The WHO on May 12 ex- transmittable variants, ap- dia had several potential con- tify the variant in question. a piece of origami artwork, the centre of galaxies, includ- plained that B.1.617 was added peared to be one of several fac- tributing factors, including By the end of April, B.1.617.1 which allows it to fit inside ing our own. to the list because it appears tors fuelling India’s dramatic increase in the proportion of and B.1.617.2 accounted for a 5m rocket fairing, and will Smith said: “The discovery to be transmitting more easily surge in new cases and deaths. cases of SARS-CoV-2 variants 21 and seven per cent respec- then use 132 individual ac- capability of Webb is limited than the original virus, pointing India – a country of 1.3 bil- with potentially increased tively of all sequenced sam- tuators and motors to bend only by our own imagina- to the “rapid increases in preva- lion people – is the world’s transmissibility,” it said. ples from India, it said. each mirror into a specific tions, and scientists around lence in multiple countries”. second-most infected after It also pointed to “several In addition, other more position. the world will soon be using WHO also pointed to “prelim- the US with nearly 23 million religious and political mass contagious variants are also Together, the mirrors will this general purpose obser- inary evidence” that the variant Covid-19 cases, and is cur- gathering events which in- spreading in the country, in- function as one massive re- vatory to take us places we was more resistant to treatment rently recording more than creased social mixing; and, cluding B.1.1.7, which was flector, to enable the tele- haven’t dreamed of going be- with the monoclonal antibody 300,000 new cases and close under-use of and reduced ad- first detected in Britain. AFP scope to peer deeper into the fore.” AFP Amnesty: Israel using ‘unlawful’ force in Jerusalem

AMNESTY International said Israel is Amnesty said Israel has used exces- “We are at the stage of taking off the using “abusive and wanton force sive force over multiple weeks of east gloves,” he said. against largely peaceful Palestinian Jerusalem protests. Clashes on May 10 left more than protesters” in east Jerusalem clashes In one incident, it said Israeli forc- 500 Palestinians wounded, while 37 that have wounded hundreds of dem- es last week broke up a peaceful circle officers were injured. onstrators and dozens of police. of Palestinians chanting against an Amid the Jerusalem violence, Pal- Israel on May 11 firmly defended the attempt by Israelis to evict them from estinian militant groups in Gaza conduct of its officers, insisting they their homes in the city’s Sheikh Jarrah fired more than 200 rockets towards have responded to violent Palestinian district. Israel, including seven directed rioters with appropriate measures. Forces on horseback sprinted toward towards Israel. But the London-based human the crowd, trampling a man who was Israel responded with more than rights group described some of those trying to run away, Amnesty said. 130 strikes on what it described as measures as “disproportionate and The rights group called on the military targets in Gaza. unlawful”, accusing security forces of international community “to hold Health authorities in Gaza reported “unprovoked attacks on peaceful Israel accountable for its systemic at least 22 deaths, including nine demonstrators”. violations”. children. Amnesty’s statement came amid The Israeli police did not respond The group Save the Children, also surging tension in Israeli-annexed to specific allegations, but told AFP based in London, said it was “horrified” Jerusalem, much of it concentrated at in an email: “We will not allow distur- by the Israeli air strikes and demanded the flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque com- bance of order while harming the a stop to “the indiscriminate targeting pound, Islam’s third holiest site. fabric of life, inciting to harm police and killing of civilians”. At al-Aqsa and in clashes elsewhere forces and violence against police Israeli army spokesman Jonathan in east Jerusalem, police used stun officers and civilians.” Conricus said Israel “was doing eve- grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas and Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai rything possible to limit collateral skunk water cannons in response to told Israeli N12 TV on May 10 that in damage” and he said there was no Palestinians who hurled stones, bot- Jerusalem in recent days “we showed confirmation Israeli strikes had Israeli security forces deploy in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound on Monday tles and fireworks at officers. too much restraint”. impacted Gaza civilians. AFP during clashes with Palestinians. AFP. 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Late incentives haunt Covid-19 Lao woman dies front-line workers in Indonesia after receiving he Indonesian government coronavirus jab drew criticism for failing to dis- burse timely incentives to medi- A 63-year-old woman died This brings the total number cal workers stationed at Covid-19 in Laos after being given the since March last year to 1,362, frontlinesT after a nurse was allegedly re- AstraZeneca vaccine last week, of whom 297 have been dis- moved from her position as punishment the National Taskforce for charged from hospital. So far, for publicly raising the issue. Covid-19 Prevention and Con- only one person is known to Medical workers, including those re- trol announced on May 11. have died from the virus. cruited as volunteers, who meet certain The women, identified as One of the greatest con- government criteria are promised finan- Bounya from Na-khoun vil- cerns is that the Indian vari- cial incentives that vary according to lage in Vientiane’s Naxaithong ant of coronavirus has been their roles. Nurses can earn up to 7.5 mil- district, was vaccinated at the found in neighbouring coun- lion rupiah ($530) per month and doctors Lao International Trade Exhi- tries, sparking further alarm up to 10 million rupiah. bition and Convention Centre in Laos and ramping up the But data from the health ministry has (Lao-ITECC) on May 7. need to keep the virus at bay. revealed that tens of thousands of medi- “She passed all the checks According to a BBC report, cal workers have yet to receive their including a temperature test the Indian variant mutates monthly incentives for late 2020 to April before she was vaccinated regularly. Most of these muta- this year. and did not feel unwell im- tions are irrelevant and some “We need time to disburse the funds mediately afterwards,” Dr may even make the virus less because a lot of medical workers are in- Bandith Xomphonphakdy, a dangerous, but others can volved and we need to open new bank ac- vaccine expert, said. make it more transmissible counts for them,” the acting head of the Representing the taskforce, and harder to kill through ministry’s human resource management Dr Bandith said that the day vaccination. and development, Kirana Pritasari, told a after being vaccinated, the As the Indian variant is virtual press briefing on May 11. A man holding fishing equipment passes by a mural depicting medical workers on Jalan Raya woman experienced pain in highly infectious, it’s essential A recently issued ministerial regula- Setu street in Cipayung of Indonesia’s East Jakarta on September 7. More than 100 doctors have her legs and other parts of that Laos reinforces border tion requires incentives to be directly died from Covid-19 since the outbreak in the country started in March. THE JAKARTA POST her body. She had previously controls to prevent people disbursed to individual bank accounts been diagnosed with diabetes entering the country illegally. instead of to the workers’ health facili- Auditing since April, the agency still has then suddenly let go by the Wisma Atlet and hypertension. Doctors The number of new infec- ties. However, Kirana said some medi- 382 billion rupiah left to examine from hospital, he said. did not have any information tions recorded in Vientiane cal workers had yet to receive their new the 1.48 trillion, targeting some 190,000 The nurse said she regretted the govern- about the medication she has stabilised but new cases accounts at state-owned banks that had workers. Iwan Taufiq Purwanto, a deputy ment’s anti-criticism stance, highlighting took to ease the pain. are increasing in some of the partnered with the ministry. at the BPKP, has attributed the unfinished the need to improve medical workers’ On May 9, she vomited provinces, particularly Bokeo. The issue drew further outcry after a review to insufficient supporting docu- welfare amid the Covid-19 pandemic and blood and was admitted to On May 10, six new cases were nurse working at the national Covid-19 ments from health facilities. hear their grievances. Naxaithong district hospi- recorded in Vientiane, rising hospital, Wisma Atlet in Central Jakarta, Even after the BPKP’s audit, the funds “Even though we’re volunteers, our tal where she died. Health to nine on May 11. sought assistance from civil groups. must be further approved by the finance rights as medical workers are guaranteed officials were unable to say Bokeo province reported 15 The nurse, along with a doctor who ministry to be transferred to medical by the Constitution, the law and health whether her death was linked new cases on May 10 and 20 on does not work at the hospital, revealed workers. Only 790 billion rupiah has been ministry regulations,” she said. to the vaccine as more inves- May 11. Champasak province last week that they had received reports approved so far, targeting some 124,000 Wisma Atlet has deployed over 6,900 tigation is needed. recorded one imported case from 1,500 nurses, many at Wisma Atlet, workers. workers since March last year. Kirana of The same vaccine has been on May 10, but five new cases who had yet to receive their November “It must be further investigated wheth- the health ministry said the December in- given to thousands of people, were recorded on May 11. and December incentives last year. er the reasons are indeed administrative centives for some 1,600 workers had been most of whom have not expe- Of the total 1,362 cases re- Some 400 other nurses have not re- or certain parties are aiming to [pocket] disbursed on May 6 and May 10, and the rienced any problems. In the corded to date, 739 were re- ceived their January incentives and 1,500 the funds,” Kurniawan Ramadhana of the January incentives for 2,090 workers had meantime, health officials ported in Vientiane followed have yet to be compensated for work Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) told been disbursed last month. urge everyone to get vac- by Bokeo province (304 cases), done between February and March, ac- a separate press briefing. Meanwhile, incentives for the rest of cinated in order to slow the Champasak province (188 cas- cording to the nurse and the doctor, who He urged the Corruption Eradication the months this year, targeting around spread of the deadly virus. es) and Savannakhet province named themselves the Indonesian Medi- Commission (KPK), which is currently 8,000 recipients, are being processed and On May 11, 35 new Covid- (51 cases). Only Attapeu and cal Workers Network. embroiled in various scandals, to strictly expected to arrive in the health workers’ 19 cases were announced af- Huaphan remain virus-free. Their main concern is that medical monitor the disbursement of incentives bank accounts before Idul Fitri holiday, ter 3,247 samples were tested. VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK personnel working at makeshift hospi- to avoid another graft case using Covid- she said. tals commonly rely on these incentives 19 funds, referring to the social aid cor- Wisma Atlet hospital field commander as their sole income as they cannot work ruption case implicating former social Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Arifin elsewhere, while their meals and accom- affairs minister Juliari Batubara. has dismissed allegations of intimida- modation are paid for by the govern- The LaporCOVID-19 (Report Covid-19) tion, saying that every month, volunteers ment. community said that aside from the late and medical workers were subject to re- Kirana revealed that the finance min- disbursement of incentives, it has also view by the ethics committee on whether istry has approved the disbursement of received reports of workers having their their services would be extended. about 202 billion rupiah in new incen- incentives cut by health facilities. He said there was no such organisation tives this year, targeting 31,000 workers Public defender Nelson Simamora at as the Indonesian Medical Workers Net- serving Covid-19 patients nationwide, Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH Jakarta) also lam- work and the nurse had violated rules by out of the total of 1.04 trillion rupiah in basted what he described as intimidation creating her own organisation and speak- newly proposed incentives for about tactics used by authorities on the nurse ing to the media without informing him. 168,000 workers. who spoke up about the issue. “Since the start, the Wisma Atlet hospi- These use a different scheme from those Nelson, who is assisting the nurse, said tal has always recruited [health workers] that should have been paid last year. Last she had been questioned by the police at who come voluntarily for humanitarian year’s funds allocated for overdue pay- the hospital and then forced by the facility purposes, not like factory workers … In- ments must be first audited by the De- to sign a statement promising she would centives are rewarded by the government, The AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine has been given to thousands of velopment Finance Comptroller (BPKP) not raise the issue again as her work card not like some wage for factory workers,” people in Laos, most of whom have not experienced any problems. LAO before they can be used this year. had also been confiscated. The nurse was he said. THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK NEWS AGENCY Major Thai democracy protest leader granted bail

A prominent Thai democracy pro- Thai government, which called for re- reform”. A bail hearing on May 11 for a third daily rallies have petered out as Thai- test leader facing royal defamation forms to the country’s monarchy. He gave a three-fingered salute – a activist – Panupong “Mike” Jadnok, land grapples with a third wave of charges was granted bail on May 11 On May 11 a criminal court granted symbol of resistance – out the win- who is facing eight royal defama- coronavirus infections and tighter amid deteriorating health following Parit bail. dow of the vehicle, which was ex- tion charges – has been postponed restrictions on public gatherings. a hunger strike that lasted more than “Parit has made a statement with pected to take him to a Bangkok hos- because he is at risk of developing a Another student leader, Panusaya 50 days. free will that if he gets bail he will not pital for further medical treatment. coronavirus infection after coming Sithijirawattanakul, more commonly Parit Chiwarak, who goes by the carry out any action to dishonour the Before his release he was hit with a in close contact with a positive case. known by her nickname Rung, was nickname “Penguin”, had been re- monarchy and will not attend any further arrest warrant for a separate Eighty-six people from the democra- freed from custody last week. manded in custody since March activity causing unrest. He will not criminal charge, but was granted cy movement have fallen foul of Thai- She faces nine charges of insulting when authorities indicted him under leave the country unless the court bail. land’s royal defamation laws since July the monarchy. Thailand’s strict lese-majeste laws. gives permission,” the court said. Musician Chaiamorn Kaewwi- last year and are awaiting trial. Another high-profile protest leader, Late last month, he was transferred Late on May 11 night he left the boonpan was also granted bail over Those convicted can be sentenced human rights lawyer Anon Numpa, to hospital after losing 12kg. Klong Prem maximum security two royal defamation charges he to up to 15 years in jail per charge. who is facing 12 charges, has been The university student faces 20 prison in an ambulance, accompa- faces. Student-led protests in Bangkok unable to apply for bail while he re- lese-majeste charges for his role in nied by his mother, and wearing a He also gave a three-finger salute as last year drew tens of thousands of covers from a coronavirus infection last year’s demonstrations against the T-shirt emblazoned with “monarchy he was driven away from the prison. people at their peak but the near in hospital. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Covid-19 variant B.1.617 in the www.phnompenhpost.com EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Philippines – a monster at the gates Managing Editor Sam Rith Deputy Managing Editor Phuon Chansereivuth Opinion Chief of Staff Editorial Phak Seangly Business Editor May Kunmakara ith the Covid- Deputy Business Editor 19 variant Sangeetha Amarthalingam B.1.617 spread- Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk ing in India, Pan Simala Wbreaking news that two over- Senior Reporters seas Filipino workers from Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng, Mom Kunthear Oman and the United Arab Reporters Emirates had tested positive Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, for it was truly disturbing. Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Hong Raksmey, They have apparently since Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, Roth Sochieata, recovered, but the question Orm Bunthoeurn, Ry Sochan, becomes more urgent: How is the Philippines preparing Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha for another possible surge of Photographers the pandemic? Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey It was only late last month Web Editor that the government banned Leang Phannara the entry of travellers from Digital Team India starting April 29 up to Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy May 14, which is two days Desktop Publishing away. At the time of the Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath, announcement, as many as Than Veasna 73 Filipinos in India had test- SIEM REAP BUREAU ed positive for Covid-19 and Offi ce Manager were being assisted in their Sophearith Blondeel medical needs by the Philip- PRODUCTION & PRINTING pine embassy, per ambassa- Nhim Sokphyrak dor Ramon Bagatsing Jr (The Commercial and Graphic Designer number has since risen and Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith one embassy officer has since died of the respiratory disease.) By then the vast South A man wearing personal protective equipment walks into a makeshift ward built for Covid-19 patients at a hospital in Manila. afp HEAD OFFICE Asian country was struggling Post Media Co., Ltd. to cope with dramatic num- Philippines could bestir itself idea of targeted vaccination “Let’s reserve the vaccina- infections increasing the The Elements Condominium Level 7, bers of infections and deaths to do so.) instead of mass vaccination – tion for the elderly and other total since the start of the Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, – a fresh wave of misery On May 6, Inquirer health for example, inoculating resi- high-risk persons . . .” he pandemic to more than 22.3 Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom unleashed by the B.1.617 var- columnist Dr Rafael Castillo dents of the National Capital wrote. million. Penh, Cambodia iant first detected there in raised the need for a contin- Region and adjoining prov- It may or may not be an To address what the WHO Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 October and, with its sublin- gency plan “for when the inces Bulacan, Cavite, Lagu- acknowledgment of Castillo’s called the “moral outrage” of Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 eages of varying mutations Indian variant hits us”. In an na, and Rizal, or NCR Plus, pitch, but health officials are the inequitable distribution Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 and characteristics, now list- interview with Inquirer but not those aged 20-40 now employing “sectoral” of vaccines worldwide, the SIEM REAP ed as a variant of “global con- reporter Patricia Chiu, he years old for whom, he said vaccinations (health workers, EU called for an end to vac- No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune cern” by the World Health wondered whether there was in a recommendation he people with comorbidities, cine export limits and the US Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Organisation. sufficient supply of oxygen made as early as March 22, senior citizens, or the most at backed waiving intellectual COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT Plainly put, B.1.617 is more for patients who would have the risk of dying from Covid- risk of infection) and “geo- property protections for Cov- Chief Operating Offi cer transmissible, more deadly no space in crowded hospi- 19 is low. graphic” vaccinations (NCR id-19 vaccines – acts of reas- James Ong Soon Teck because able to elude vac- tals, or “additional tents, in “It’s better to allow their Plus, or economic centres surance that will, however, Advertising Department cine protections, and thus case cases go back to 15,000 system to develop natural, nationwide), the idea being produce yet distant results. Chap Narith, 017 996 241 more dangerous than the to 20,000 in a single day”. rather than vaccine-generat- to make judicious use of the On May 7, Philippine ‘Mala- Hun Channet, 017 578 768 original strain. These are valid concerns ed, immunity that can poten- uneven supply of vaccines canang’ Presidential Palace Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 What is the Inter-Agency for the people in charge of tially weaken their innate reaching our shores. And, of announced new guidelines, Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 Task Force for the Manage- the nuts and bolts of the Phil- immunity,” he wrote then. course, to help the prostrate including two-week quaran- Paing Patrya, 081 872 202 ment of Emerging Infectious ippine defence against the In that early recommenda- economy recover. tine and strict swab tests, for Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 Diseases doing to reinforce ever-mutating coronavirus. tion, Castillo noted the rate But first, the monster at Filipino and foreign travelers CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION the Philippines’ fragile health Castillo mentioned a narrow with which “escape muta- the gates. The WHO said last to the Philippines. It is hoped Acting Distribution Manager system? (Other countries, window of 45-60 days in tions” were developing and week that B.1.617 had been that logistics have also been Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 including New Zealand, Paki- which to prepare for what called for a shift from a “vac- seen in over 1,200 sequences fine-tuned and that it’s true, Circulation Supervisor stan, the US, and the UK, et WHO chief scientist Soumya cine-centric strategy” to “a “from at least 17 countries”. as the Palace mouthpiece Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 cetera, were reported to have Swaminathan has described more holistic multipronged At the time of writing, the claimed, that “we have fore- ADMINISTRATION quickly moved to avert trans- as the “extremely rapidly approach” that included pro- number of deaths in India sight and we have learned Admin & HR Manager PHILIPPINE DAILY mission by banning travellers spreading” B.1.617 variant. moting the use of immune- was pulling the overall toll what to do…” Pich Socheat INQUIRER/ASIA NEWS NETWORK from India even before the Castillo again raised the system-boosting agents. past 240,000, with new Assistants Admin & HR Manager Nhel Soaphea Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT & Networking Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co., Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co., Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co., Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Areca Cam rebranding betel palms

Areca Cam has turned areca leaf sheath into spoon, box and plate as an alternative to plastics to save the planet. SUPPLIED Areca Cam founder Hour Chhai Ngorn makes use of bamboo and areca leaf sheath to reduce plastic waste. SUPPLIED

Roth Sochieata and groom’s parents exchange and severity of today’s environ- duction process in early 2021. that’s why it’s a little higher to make livestock feed as well. betel leaf and customarily mental problems to people. We’re learning the demands than plastic prices. Chhai Ngorn says there are HE habit of chew- chew it to signify acceptance “We have known for a while of the market and figuring And while the items are bio- two ways he hopes his envi- ing betel nut among of each other’s children into now that plastic is one of the out the amount of areca leaf degradable, that doesn’t mean ronmental work will make a the middle-aged and their family, like a bonding major causes of the destruc- sheathes we may need to be they have to be instantly dis- positive impact on Cambo- elderly has faded ceremony of sorts. tion of our environment. To a wholesale supplier. We have posed of after one use. dian society. dramaticallyT in recent years But very few young Cam- replace plastic, we’ve found been letting our team test out “To keep the items longer The first is by pioneering and is rarely practiced now by bodians will chew on the be- some alternatives and areca our finished products by us- lasting, it’s either going to be these methods of production young people. Now the areca tel leaves and nuts these days leaf sheath is one of those,” ing them,” Chhai Ngorn says. based on our manufacturing and working out how environ- palm mostly serves as a tra- – most think of it as a dirty Chhai Ngorn tells The Post. Chhai Ngorn says Areca Cam process or on the user’s care mentally friendly products can ditional symbolic offering in habit, and not a particularly Using areca to make com- hasn’t launched their products for the products,” he explains. be made and then after that wedding ceremonies rather attractive one. mon items instead of plastic is on the market yet because Another issue is building a comes gaining the support of than as source of an item for Chhai Ngorn, the 30-year-old not only good for the environ- they are still in the process of supply chain and coming up the public and marketshare daily consumption. founder of Areca Cam as well as ment, it’s also creating job op- experimenting to find optimal with a strategy to keep the for the use of these innovative Betel nut or areca nut is the the president of environmen- portunities for the people liv- production methods. leaf sheathes in good quality. eco-friendly products. seed of the areca palm tree, tal conservation organisation ing near the production area. “From our own experiences, “It was hard for us at first “We are in the first stage and which grows throughout East Creal Cambodia, came up with With Covid devastating the for these items after three or because it all depends on we are not yet worried about Africa, Southeast Asia, East a different use for areca palms economy and eliminating jobs, four months the product is people. Sometimes they co- supplying the entire consumer Asia and the Pacific islands. and one that is much more fas- many people have stayed home. still usable – even after seven operate and sometimes they market. We have a team of vol- Betel nut has various chem- cinating and creative than just The young people and elders or eight times being used. No don’t. We tried to collect as unteers and a lot of interns. We ical compounds present in it chewing an addictive nut. who have nothing else to do have problems are occurring at all.” much of it as we can but later are also a partner of the Min- and one of them – arecoline – The areca leaf sheath can gone out to harvest the areca leaf This is all part of the develop- on we found that it goes rot- istry of Environment, so we is similar to nicotine in its ef- actually be turned into items sheathes to sell to Areca Cam. ment process as they figure out ten too quickly when stored will have some partners to sell fect and addictive properties. we use daily such as spoons, It is work that anyone can the solution to various issues. away. But if we don’t collect wholesale to through them. And like nicotine in chew- forks, knives, plates, bowls, do and it’s a fairly easy job. All During the testing process enough then it might be in- “But apart from that, there ing tobacco, arecoline is also a boxes and more. they need to do is collect and Chhai Ngorn says the prob- sufficient for the market de- are also a lot of customers dangerous carcinogen, caus- “Having been involved with wash the leaf sheathes and lem he faces is that some po- mand,” he says. waiting to purchase these ing cancers of the mouth and environmental work for years, dry them. Then they are put tential clients have been wary The current method they items once we have the pro- throat in people who are fre- we’ve been doing a lot of re- into a molding machine by of the higher price of these use is that after drying the leaf duction aspect worked out quent chewers of betel nut. search into ideas about how to Areca Cam to form them into items than plastics but he sheathes they turn it into the and most of them are restau- Although betel nut chewing save our environment as well different shapes. points out that it’s a natural finished products right away rant owners, which is a really has become less prevalent, as how to explain the nature “We initially started the pro- product and it’s handmade instead of storing it raw. That good sign,” Chhai Ngorn says. the areca palm plants remain helps it last longer and keeps it Chhai Ngorn also has a mes- abundant in Cambodia and from falling apart or rotting. sage for all would-be Cambo- Hour Chhai Ngorn – one of The production and supply dian environmentalists: Talk is the founders of Areca Cam – site of Areca Cam is based out cheap and everyone needs to saw an opportunity in them. of Chhai Ngorn’s hometown change their daily habits and Areca Cam is turning the in Kampong Cham province. the way they go about their areca leaf sheathes into Tbong Khmum province is lives – as well as find other spoons, boxes and plates as another location where peo- ways to pitch-in and help – if an environmentally-friendly ple are collecting the areca they want to save the planet. alternative option to plastics. leaf sheathes for them. “I understand that con- Areca palms in Cambodia Chhai Ngorn says that they sciousness about environ- used to only be used for their chose Tbong Khmum province mental protection is impor- nut. Older generations of Cam- because it’s more convenient to tant, but I have a request to bodians used to munch the supervise the business and it’s those who say they love the betel leaves, betel nuts and to- cheaper since the areca palm environment. Talking is not a bacco because it was believed plants are easily found there. very practical solution with- that chewing them would help He hopes to expand more into out any actions. Our team has to maintain good dental health the nearby provinces and hope- gotten this idea going without by protecting them from tooth- fully to place another molding any help or big funding. We aches and bad breath. The ad- machine in Siem Reap to start a just have passion for the work dictive nature of the plants and second branch of Areca Cam. and we somehow manage to the link between chewing be- Chhai Ngorn has experi- feed ourselves, but without tel nut or tobacco and cancer ence with manufacturing the support of the Cambodi- wasn’t yet widely understood. eco-friendly products start an people it may be difficult Sometimes people in the eco-friendly products. Over for us to continue doing what countryside served it to house- two years ago he began mak- we do,” Chhai Ngorn says. guests or offered it to monks at ing a variety of products from For further information on the pagoda and it also plays an bamboo including bottles Areca Cam including infor- important part in traditional and cups and other items. mation on product purchas- wedding ceremonies. If everything goes smoothly, es, donating or volunteering In some traditional wed- Seeing that abundant plants have not been fully utilised, Hour Chhai Ngorn turns areca leaf sheath into in the future he wants to use – contact them via their Face- ding ceremonies the bride spoon, box and plate as an alternative to plastic. SUPPLIED the areca palm leaf sheathes book page @arecakhmer THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Fashion Grandmas: Meet China’s elderly influencers cashing in on the internet

XQUISITELY garbed in a tra- being threatened by her husband ditional cheongsam dress, before an elegant granny has him 76-year-old Sang Xiuzhu is pinned back in his chair by body- one of an unlikely vanguard guards and gives the woman a hug. ofE elderly influencers storming Chi- “The elderly should live how they nese social media with videos of want and be optimistic,” Sang said. glamour in the golden years. “Age is just a number.” Two years ago she joined the “Fash- ion Grandmas”, whose one-minute ‘Actually we know everything’ clips and livestreams of them turn- A generation of Chinese born in ing Beijing’s streets into a catwalk are the 1960s are reaching their man- devoured by millions of fans. datory retirement age of 60 for men They mix elegance with epithets of and 55 for women. wisdom – on marriage, love and life These new retirees are the first – from a generation who are now in- group to receive higher education creasingly integral to both the econ- after the Mao-era Cultural Revolu- omy and online culture of China. tion, which scorned the “bourgeois” “Our young fans say they are not pursuit of learning and left a genera- afraid of ageing after seeing gran- tion without social mobility. nies like us living fashionable and “They are richer and highly edu- happy lives,” said Sang. cated,” said Bian Changyong, chief China is getting old fast and Bei- executive of the Beijing Dama Tech- jing is faced with the monumental nology Company, which helps run challenge of how to provide for tens the elderly influencers’ social media. of millions of retirees. “That improves the ‘cashability’ But this has also opened opportu- and quality of China’s elderly inter- nities for those who are financially net industry.” comfortable in their dotage and The value of China’s “grey-haired” able to harness the commercial pos- economy is estimated to reach 5.7 sibilities of technology. trillion yuan (nearly $900 billion) this It is an economy worth hundreds year, according to iiMedia Research. of billions of dollars, craving longev- Bian said the Covid-19 pandemic Members of the ‘Fashion Grandmas’ dressed in traditional costumes pose for a photo during a rehearsal for a performance on a television show in Beijing. AFP ity, entertainment and consumer had also pushed the elderly deeper goods, and hooked like everybody online, hunting for shopping and else to their smartphones. entertainment. The “Fashion Grandmas” collec- To reach this vast untapped pool of tive has 23 main members, with older consumers, Bian’s company also dozens more fringe contributors provides online courses for senior citi- across the country, all aged between zens to learn singing, dancing or kung their late 50s and their mid-70s. fu through livestreaming channels. They make money from pop-up “China’s mobile internet industry ads in their videos and livestream- has earned money from every group ing product sales. . . . men, women, youngsters, parents, “They can sell 200 units of a prod- but not the elderly,” said Bian. uct within a minute of starting a “This could be the last structural stream,” says their agent He Daling. opportunity of the industry.” Their videos also carry messages Granny Ruan Yaqing, 58, has her own of inspiration, such as “beauty is video channel and uses an iPhone to not only for the young”, or “even the reach over six million fans as she tours elderly can live a wonderful life!” Beijing’s history and culture. as well as serious messages such as She fell into the world of video- call-outs of domestic violence. streaming to avoid becoming a “nag- One of their videos shows a man ging” presence stuck at home, she raise a hand to hit his girlfriend in a jokes. store, before a furious older woman But she also carries a message on grabs his arm and waves for him to the virtues of age from a golden gen- be dragged away by security guards. eration refusing to be pushed into “Domestic violence is illegal” the background of modern China. reads the text on the screen, adding “Young people assume the elderly that it is “shameful” to hit women. know nothing,” she says. “Actually Social media influencer and granny Ruan Yaqing records a short video for her channel on video-sharing apps Kuaishou and Douyin Another shows a pregnant woman we know everything.”AFP in a park in Beijing. AFP Greece touts for tourists with season to start despite Covid

GREECE is keen to see crowds Adams to push the case for an ernment spokesperson Aris- of holiday-makers flooding easing of travel restrictions, a totelia Peloni. back to its idyllic islands and Greek statement said. Under partial lockdown has despatched the tourism He will also have talks with since November 7, Greece is minister to London to con- British Airways, EasyJet and still recording more than 1,500 vince one of its biggest mar- Jet2 which, the statement Covid-19 infections daily, kets the country is safe. said, “have frequent flights mostly in Athens, along with Before the pandemic, 3.5 to Greece, which is very dozens of deaths and hospitals million British holiday-makers important . . . proof it’s a safe are overwhelmed. visited Greece in 2019 and destination”. But it has since early April been Harry Theoharis said he will Athens was one of the first gradually reopening non-essen- spend three days “promoting” EU capitals, with Madrid, to tial shops and cafe terraces in a the destination this week. back the idea of a vaccination bid to kickstart tourism. The UK has put Greece on its certificate to enable mass trav- On Monday, all schools were amber travel list for now, el to resume, Greek Prime allowed to reopen after six meaning British people return- Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis months’ closure. ing home from Greece face at noted Monday after talks with Student and teachers will least five days in quarantine. his Spanish counterpart Pedro have to self-test for the virus Tourism rakes in a as much Sanchez. twice a week. as a quarter of Greece’s annual “On May 14, the start of Nearly a month ago seven income and Athens wants to tourism and travel between days of quarantine was lifted persuade tour operators the [Greek] departments is an for travellers from the EU, US, country is safe to visit. extremely important step,” UK, Israel, Serbia, the United Visitors enjoy a hot springs natural pools on the Greek island of Eubea. Greece is preparing to open borders Theoharis will meet British which coincides with the reo- Arab Emirates and other for local and international tourists on May 15. AFP junior foreign minister Nigel pening of museums, said gov- countries. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Sufi Dervish dancer Mahmoud al-Kharrat (centre, top), his brother Muayad (right, behind), Muayad’s son Anas (centre, below) and other members of the Kharrat family pose for a picture at their home in Damascus. AFP Twirl and spin: Family in Damascus preserves

Sufi whirling tradition “GOOD INDICATION”

hree-year-old Anas ing offers relief from the woes siveness and humility before ACROSS 52 Grammy winner Yoko 19 Four gills al-Kharrat gracefully of a conflict that has been ex- God.” 1 Buyer’s concern 54 Old Ford model 24 Shopper’s binge raises one hand to acerbated by a dire economic Before the outbreak of the 5 Hacienda home 56 “Wheel of Fortune” host Sajak 26 Encircle the sky as his long crisis and the coronavirus Syrian conflict in 2011, Mah- 9 Judge, at times 57 Bull’s sound 27 Chang’s Siamese twin whiteT robe twirls around his pandemic, he said. moud performed in several 28 I, to Claudius 14 Common fairy-tale opener 59 Raspy tiny spinning body. “Whenever I feel distressed European countries, and even 15 Quiet time 61 Making an appearance 30 Absolute His dancing skills run in the . . . I confine myself to my room, toured the US. 16 Blood carrier 65 Theatrical sketch 32 In a crowd of family – his dervish dancer fa- and turn and turn until I feel at “We spent more time outside 17 Exit lane, sometimes 66 Length x width, for a rectangle 34 African language ther Muayad is whirling next to peace.” Syria than inside,” he said. 20 History book listings 67 Iranian currency 36 Barbershop quartet productions him, in front of a spellbound In the living room of their Da- Travel restrictions imposed 21 Uses a blender 68 Mosque officials 37 Butcher’s discards 39 Baseball legend Musial audience. mascus home, Muayad pulled on Syrians due to the conflict 22 Mrs. William McKinley 69 Requirement 40 Editorial page feature “Anas learnt to whirl before a long white robe over Anas’s brought the family’s perfor- 23 Cry of success 70 The “O” in SRO 41 Missing a mate he learnt to talk,” his father said, head before helping him with a mances abroad to a halt, forc- 25 Santa ___ winds DOWN 42 “Eureka!” speaking inside a Damascus matching jacket and a tall bur- ing them to keep up the tra- 26 “___ whiz!” 1 Candy containing a fruit or nut 45 Any day now restaurant. “He is the youngest gundy felt cap. dition by performing at local 29 Forbidden perfume brand? 2 New York lake or city 48 Ankle injury dervish dancer in Syria”. Around them stood rela- events. 31 Upscale hotel offering 3 Sacred beetle of ancient Egypt 49 Computer programming language 33 River sporting activity 4 Addition column Whirling – a sort of moving tives in matching outfits and “We have performed in res- 50 Kind of glare 35 Prefix with “dynamics” or “nuclear” 5 Narrowly spaced meditation through which Su- similar “sikke” caps, which taurants and weddings,” Mah- 53 Choir accompanier 38 One of Florida’s keys 6 “___ Wiedersehen” fis seek to commune with the can be brown or black and are moud said. 55 Two, in Tijuana 39 Mood 7 Deli side divine – sees performers twirl to designed to emulate the stick Evening performances dur- 57 Done laps in a pool 41 Movie with a saloon fight, often 8 Omega’s opposite the hypnotic rhythm of prayer, shape of the first letter of the ing Ramadan “are one of our 58 Skedaddled 43 “___ terrible” (brat) 9 Protection for a truck’s cargo until they reach a trance-like word God in Arabic (“Allah”). last hopes” to make a living, 60 Spherical hairdo 44 Kerouac’s “The ___ Bums” 10 Little hoppers state. They then descend a long he added. 11 Bank offering, for short 61 Indian title of respect 46 Filling station filler Popular in Iran, Afghanistan staircase towards a courtyard, The holy month is a busy time 12 “Yadda, yadda, yadda” 62 Bottom line of clothing 47 Package delivery org. and Turkey, the dance emerged to practice whirling to the of year for whirling dervishes, 13 “Go team!” 63 Eggs, in a lab 51 Football legend Marino alongside Sufism – a spiritu- rhythm of prayer with Muay- who perform for audiences 18 Pig’s digs 64 Originally named ally focused approach to Islam, ad’s brother Mahmoud. sipping coffee or smoking founded by followers of 13th- shisha in cafes and restaurants Wednesday’s solution century Persian mystic and Ramadan special after a day of fasting. poet Jalal al-Din Rumi. The 34-year-old is teaching Almost every popular spot The Kharrat family is one of the children how to hold their in the capital offers some form the most reputed in Damas- arms while twirling. of dervish performance to at- cus, and boasts 20 dervish “By raising our arms we tract customers. dancers who often perform are begging for mercy from “We eagerly await the month during the Islamic holy month God and sending a prayer of Ramadan to share this ritual of Ramadan. to the heavens,” Mahmoud with people,” said Mahmoud. Muayad started twirling as a said, gesturing toward the “Whirling is for every time child, taught first by his grand- sky. and place, but it is even more father, then his uncle and fi- “Placing our hands against spiritual during Ramadan”. nally his father. our chest is a sign of submis- AFP At 28, he now owns a fra- grance shop in a popular Da- mascus market, but his real Wednesday’s solution passion lies in Sufi spiritual practise. “Sufism in general is a means to worship and exaltation,” he said. “Whirling is just one way of reaching God.” ‘Humility’ Muayad said he can twirl dozens of times per minute “without moving an inch away from the axis”. In Syria, members of the Kharrat family are one of the largest Damascene In war-wracked Syria, whirl- families trying to preserve the Sufi whirling ritual.AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Haaland set for German Cup final as Nagelsmann eyes title

triker Erling Braut Haaland is expected to return for Borus- sia Dortmund in TShursday’s German Cup final against RB Leipzig, whose de- parting coach Julian Nagels- Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns a shot to USA’s Taylor Fritz during mann wants to sign off with their first round match of the Men’s Italian Open on May 11 in Rome, his and the club’s first title. Italy. AFP Haaland returned to train- ing on Tuesday having sat out Saturday’s 3-2 league win over Djokovic overcomes Leipzig with deep bruising as England winger Jadon Sancho scored a superb winner in the three-hour rain break cup final rehearsal. “Even if he [Haaland] plays, I give us a good chance of win- to advance in Rome ning this final,” said Leipzig World No 1 Novak Djokovic Federico Delbonis or David defender Lukas Klostermann, overcame a “strange” lengthy Goffin, who meet early on who scored during Saturday’s rain delay to beat American Wednesday. away league defeat. Taylor Fritz 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to Earlier, sixteenth seed Grigor Dortmund will be with- reach the third round of the Dimitrov crashed out in the out Switzerland goalkeeper Italian Open on Tuesday. first round when he was beaten Marwin Hitz, who injured his Title holder Djokovic waited in straight sets by Spanish qual- knee on Saturday and will be three hours to finish off the ifier Alejandro Davidovich replaced in goal by Roman Dortmund’s Norwegian forward Erling Braut Haaland attempts to get the ball past Union Berlin’s German match despite Fritz’s efforts in Fokina. Buerki. goalkeeper Andreas Luthe during the German first division Bundesliga football match on April 21.AFP the second set. The world number 48 saved Dortmund are bidding to lift “It was a really strange match, two set points in the second set the cup for only the fifth time Without or without Haaland, history as the youngest head mann wants to sign off by cel- to play in the rain, it was diffi- as he dismissed the 2014 semi- in the club’s history. Their last Dortmund are favourites after coach to win the trophy, beating ebrating a cup final win “with cult,” the Serb said. finalist Dimitrov 6-4, 7-6 (7/2) win in the final was four years winning their last five games Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer, who the boys”. “It possibly helped me because to win in one hour and 43 min- ago when they squeezed past since losing to Manchester was 35 when Fortuna Duessel- Dortmund caretaker coach the play was slower, and he has utes. Eintracht Frankfurt. City in the Champions League dorf won the 1979 final. Edin Terzic also wants to fin- a good serve. He played really Tenth seed Roberto Bautista “It will be very intense quarter-finals. The fixture presents the ish his brief tenure in style. well. Agut booked his place in the again,” Dortmund centre- They are also unbeaten chance of a first major title for Next season, the 38-year-old “In these circumstances, you second round with a comfort- back Mats Hummels said in their last seven matches Leipzig and their coach. will be assistant coach to Mar- don’t know how much time it able 6-3, 6-4 win over American ahead of his eighth cup final, against Leipzig. Despite steering Leipzig to co Rose when he arrives from will go on for. If you have to Tommy Paul. having only won twice. “The record is not outstand- the last four of the Champions Moenchengladbach. eat, rest, or not. You have to do On the women’s side, Argen- As Dortmund sports direc- ing, we have work to do,” said League last season, Nagels- As a “life-long” Dortmund what feels best for you,” he tinian Nadia Podoroska, ranked tor Michael Zorc told AFP sub- Nagelsmann, who will leave mann has just one trophy on fan, Terzic coached the junior added. 44 in the world, assured herself sidiary SID: “The cup has been to take charge of Bayern next his CV – the Under-19 Bundes- and reserve teams before tak- Djokovic, 33, playing his sec- of a second round meeting with around for 85 years, we have season. liga title with Hoffenheim in ing over as caretaker boss last ond tournament since win- Serena Williams, playing her won it four times. You don’t lift In 11 matches against 2013/14. December and often made ning his ninth Australian Open first event since the Australian it every year.” Dortmund as either coach of When he joined in 2019, the trip to the capital city to in February, will play Cameron Open, when she came from a In contrast, Red Bull-backed Leipzig or his ex-club Hoffen- Nagelsmann said he wanted see Dortmund play as a fan. Norrie or Alejandro Davidovi- set down to beat German Lau- Leipzig, who were only found- heim, Nagelsmann has won to win “some silverware” with “I’ve been there by car, by ch for a place in the quarter- ra Siegemund 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), ed in 2009, are still chasing a just once. Leipzig. plane, by fans train and also on finals. 6-1. first major title in any compe- “It’s about time, in Berlin This is his last chance be- a train for staff,” recalls Terzic. Elsewhere, Canadian Felix Madison Keys won the battle tition after a 3-0 thrashing at we finally have to get it right,” fore being replaced by Jesse “Now, for the first time, I’m Auger-Aliassime beat last year’s of the Americans when she the hands of Bayern Munich added Nagelsmann. Marsch, currently in charge of taking the team bus to Ber- runner up Diego Schwartzman overcame Sloane Stephens 4-6, in the 2019 final. The 33-year-old can make Red Bull Salzburg and Nagels- lin.” AFP 6-1, 6-3 and will face either 6-2, 7-5. AFP Troyes return to France’s elite backed by Man City owners

Three years after relegation Despite last September’s successful season for a team que clinching the Ligue 2 title ous owner Daniel Masoni. made sure of promotion. from Ligue 1, Troyes have takeover by CFG, majority- that became the 10th in CFG’s – a year after the Covid-19 pan- “At City Football Group, “As a player you go through sealed a return to the French owned by Sheikh Mansour’s global stable, joining the likes demic abruptly halted their our objective remains to play the emotions differently, al- top flight under former Mar- Abu Dhabi United Group, pro- of New York City, Melbourne promotion push. beautiful football, identify most in an individual way. seille midfielder Laurent motion was not necessarily the City and Yokohama F. Marinos While Clermont and Tou- and develop grassroots tal- Here, I experience it for the Batlles and backed by the City overriding objective for a mod- in Japan. louse will battle for the second ent and have a permanent whole club, the staff, the play- Football Group (CFG), the par- est club from a region better Troyes spent much of the automatic promotion place, presence in the world’s foot- ers. There’s a whole lot work ent company of Manchester known for its champagne. campaign at the top, last Satur- Troyes could beat their previ- ball centres,” Ferran Soriano, of behind it,” an emotional City. But it was the reward for a day’s 2-0 victory over Dunker- ous points record (78) with a chief executive of CFG, said at Batlles said after beating win at Le Havre on Saturday. the time. Dunkerque. Troyes have bounced back CFG is also part owned by and forth between the top tier ‘Whole lot of work’ US private equity firm Silver and lower divisions since the The 45-year-old Batlles, Lake, who last month received 1950s, although the present- appointed to his first se- the backing of New Zealand day version of the club was nior coaching job by Troyes Rugby to acquire a stake in the founded in 1986 as Associa- in 2019, has built a side that All Blacks, and China Media tion Troyes Aube Champagne. plays attractive football and Capital Consortium. They reached the top flight relies on a solid core, with no The behind-the-scenes up- under Alain Perrin in 1999 but out-and-out star. heaval has not affected Batlles, were relegated in 2003 follow- Veteran attacker Yoann the new owners ostensibly ing his departure for Marseille. Touzghar, 34, has previous heeding the warning issued by Since then, Troyes have re- Ligue 1 experience with Lens, the coach. turned to the elite four times, and is the third-highest scorer “Everything that’s done to- only once avoiding going in the second division this day, it’s me who puts it in place straight back down. season, while midfielder Flo- . . . nothing is dictated to me,” Batlles and co hope it will be rian Tardieu and goalkeeper he said following the takeover. different this time, particular- Gauthier Gallon are other key The financial might of CFG, ly with the new management players. with its worldwide network structure in place. Interesting- A 12-match unbeaten run and reservoir of up-and-com- ly, it was a deal that only arose spanning from September to ing youngsters should pro- after talks with another Ligue December propelled the club vide Troyes with the means 2 outfit Nancy fizzled out. into first place, and despite a for a successful transition to CFG became Troyes’ new patchy series of results across the top flight. And, perhaps, Troyes’ teammates celebrate after Troyes’ forward Dylan Saint-Louis (second left) scored a goal during the majority shareholder after February and March, six wins the resources to stay there French Ligue 2 football match against Dunkerque on May 8. AFP buying the stake from previ- in their past seven games long-term. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Man City clinch ‘hardest’ Premier League title

anchester City were “At the start of every season, the Pre- crowned Premier League mier League is the most important champions for the third title for us. This is the one where you time in four seasons after have to be there every three days, Manchester United crashed to a 2-1 playing all your rivals home and away,” defeat against Leicester on Tuesday. Guardiola said. Pep Guardiola’s side are 10 points “Only by being the very best, week clear of second placed United and in week out, can you win this compe- have wrapped up the title with three tition. It is a huge success.” games to spare. One of the keys to City’s success has In the midst of a gruelling run of been the inspired form of Ruben Dias, three games in five days, United man- who has transformed Guardiola’s ager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer effectively defence since arriving from Benfica in handed the title to arch rivals City by August. picking a weakened team with 10 The Portugal centre-back’s rock- changes. solid partnership with the revitalised With many of City’s players watch- John Stones laid the title founda- ing on television, Luke Thomas’ 10th tions. minute volley put Leicester ahead Even without club record goalscorer before Mason Greenwood equalised Sergio Aguero for long periods due to five minutes later. fitness issues, City have been a potent Caglar Soyuncu’s towering header force. in the 66th minute ensured City could The emergence of England play- pop the champagne corks for a title maker Phil Foden as a match-winning party that has seemed inevitable for force was crucial, with Kevin De Bru- months. yne as consistent as ever despite bat- City were denied the chance to cel- tling injuries. ebrate on Sunday when Chelsea won Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, while Unit- produced spells of lethal finishing, ed kept them waiting with a victory at while dynamic full-back Joao Cancelo Aston Villa on Sunday. wreaked havoc with his attacking But the delay was only temporary bursts. and City, who also won the League Manchester United and Chelsea Cup in April, can finally savour a title appear poised for strong title chal- triumph that is all the sweeter given lenges next season and Liverpool are the obstacles they have overcome this Manchester City fans celebrate their club winning the Premier League title, outside the Etihad Stadium on May 11 after their closest likely to improve after an injury-hit term. challengers for the title, Manchester United, lost to Leicester City this evening. AFP campaign. “This has been a season and a Pre- But, after the exits of City legends mier League title like no other. This even greater triumph on May 29 when tling admission that he didn’t like his celona and three at Bayern Munich in David Silva, Vincent Kompany and was the hardest one,” Guardiola they face Chelsea in their first ever team. the Bundesliga. Yaya Toure in recent years, Guardiola said. Champions League final. A coronavirus outbreak in the squad has created a new generation capable “We will always remember this sea- Drained by the late finish to last sea- added to Guardiola’s problems in Dominant Dias of reigning supreme for years to son for the way we won. I am so proud son and ill-prepared due to the sub- December. Following the West Brom game, City come. to be the manager here and of this sequent lack of a proper pre-season, Having surrendered the title meek- powered to 21 successive victories in Guardiola’s latest Premier League group of players. City were slow out of the blocks. ly to Liverpool the previous season, it all competitions, a record for an Eng- success gives him an astonishing 26 “They are so special. To come After a dismal 1-1 draw against low- seemed City were heading for a period lish top-flight club, including a 4-1 major trophies in his managerial through this season, with all the ly West Bromwich Albion in Decem- of regression. rout of Liverpool at Anfield. career. restrictions and difficulties we’ve ber, City had won just five of their But Guardiola masterminded such In another sign of their dominance, With two trophies already secured faced, and show the consistency we opening 12 Premier League games. a superb recovery that City turned the City will play their first match as this season, the City boss can focus on have is remarkable. It is relentless.” It was the worst start to a season of title race into a procession, giving him champions at Newcastle on Friday on completing a memorable treble by Treble-chasing City’s seventh top- Guardiola’s managerial career, three Premier League crowns to go a run of 19 consecutive away wins in winning his club’s first Champions flight title could be the prelude to an prompting the Spaniard in the star- with three La Liga trophies with Bar- all competitions. League crown. AFP Barca title hopes hanging by a thread after Levante draw

Lionel Messi scored a brilliant volley clear of Barca with two games left if title race in recent weeks, with all of start of the second half, lost our ner for his 37th goal of the season. but Barcelona’s title hopes could be they can win away at Real Sociedad Spain’s four contenders stumbling rhythm,” said Koeman. “We weren’t Messi instigated the second too, over, with a 3-3 draw away at Levante on Wednesday. Real Madrid will down the final stretch. defensively attentive and we let freeing the sprinting Dembele down on Tuesday giving Real Madrid and edge two points ahead of Ronald Koe- But with only two games left now Levante back in. There is no other the right, who powered past Oscar Atletico Madrid the chance to pull man’s side if they win away on Thurs- and potentially two teams to catch, explanation.” Duarte and prodded back just in time away at the top of La Liga. day at Granada. Barcelona’s chances of taking the title “Our chances are slim,” added Ser- for Pedri to finish. Another slip could prove decisive There are certainly no guarantees in off Real Madrid this season would gio Busquets. “And that’s our fault – Barca were in charge but Levante given Atletico will move four points what has been a frenetic and thrilling appear remote. our decisions, our concentration - we always looked a threat on the break “We were always depending on give away easy goals.” and made it pay with two goals in two other results but the objective was to Koeman has made positive strides minutes before the hour. win our three games and hope others this season but his team’s lapses of First, Melero nipped in front of Sergi dropped points,” said Koeman. “Now concentration and fragility in defence Roberto to head in and then a sloppy it’s very complicated.” remain. Messi touch allowed Morales to bounce Levante sit 14th in the table and had Questions around the Dutchman’s the ball off Roger Marti, before volley- won only one of their previous eight future will grow louder the more the ing brilliantly into the far corner. matches but they had also prevailed club’s title chances fade, his decisions Parity lasted only five minutes, in three of their last four games at this time to start Dembele at right though, as Barcelona came again. home against Barca, and they turned wing-back and to bring Sergi Roberto Messi on the turn was able to slide it on again. into the back three particularly vul- a pass into Antoine Griezmann and Barcelona led 2-0 from Messi’s acro- nerable to scrutiny. while he was challenged, the ball batic strike and a simple Pedri finish “Coaches will always be questioned, spilled right to Dembele, who took a but two goals in two minutes before that isn’t going to change but with that touch and lashed into the top cor- the hour suddenly had Levante level, second half there will be questions ner. Gonzalo Melero and Jose Luis Morales asked and I understand that perfect- Barca were ahead again but they giving Levante hope. ly,” said Koeman. always looked vulnerable and with Ousmane Dembele pulled the visi- Barcelona had scored twice in nine seven minutes left, Levante struck. tors ahead again but again they minutes to take control, Jordi Alba’s Sergino Dest was put on the floor by squandered the advantage, Sergio cross grazing the head of Miramon on Tono down the left and his cross was Leon diverting in at the near post and its way to Messi, who adjusted his turned in by Sergio Leon, who beat Levante’s Spanish midfielder Jorge Miramon (centre) vies with Barcelona’s Spanish this time there was no way back. body and threw his left foot over the Gerard Pique at the near post. Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets during the Spanish league football match on May 11.AFP “We lowered our intensity from the ball, volleying it into the bottom cor- had no answer. AFP