wednesday, march 10, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3623 / 4000 RIEL Senate set to decide on Covid law

Niem Chheng​ and Mom Kunthear in the hands of the commission on The draft law was proposed by the trol law to contain the pandemic and defines legal measures to prevent the health, social affairs, youth rehabili- government on February 28 and passed urged the Senate to speedily pass it. spread of Covid-19,” Hun Sen said. HE Senate will hold an tation, labour, vocational training, by the National Assembly on March 5 “I request that the Senate presi- Bun Neang said: “The law will be extraordinary session on and women’s affairs for a review. following the February 20 community dent, acting as head of state, find a passed no later than five days because March 11 to approve the The commission will then refer the outbreak of Covid-19, which had seen way to swiftly enact the draft law that Article 113 of the Constitution states draft law on the control of draft law to the Permanent Commit- confirmed cases rise to 549 in just over the National Assembly has recently that the Senate can pass a draft law Covid-19T and other contagious dis- tee on March 10, with a full Senate two weeks as of March 9. passed. Please hold an online session deemed urgent by the National As- eases, with the bill expected to be session expected the next day. Once In an urgent public address late on or a meeting with a limited number of sembly within five days of its receipt. promulgated the same day. approved, the bill will be returned to March 8, Prime Minister Hun Sen members, because this law is urgent. “When the Senate approves it, the Senate spokesman Mam Bun the National Assembly to proceed said while the government would “We cannot enforce the state of draft will be returned to the National Neang confirmed to The Post on with a signature from the King or not enforce the State of Emergency emergency [law] in this situation yet, March 9 that the draft law is now acting head of state. Law as yet, it needed a disease con- but we are in need of this law that Continued – page 2

China begins virus passport scheme to up int’l tourism

CHINA has launched a health certifi- cate programme for Chinese interna- tional travellers, leading the world in plans for so-called virus passports. The digital certificate, which shows a user’s vaccination status and virus test results, is available for Chinese citizens via a programme on Chinese social media platform WeChat that was launched on March 9. The certificate is being rolled out “to help promote world economic recovery and facilitate cross-border travel”, a foreign ministry spokesman said. However, while the certificate is meant for travel in and out of China, it is currently only available for use by Chinese citizens and it is not yet mandatory. There is also no indication author- ities in other countries will use it when Chinese travellers go abroad. Nevertheless, the certificate, which is also available in paper form, is thought to be the world’s first known “virus passport”. The US and Britain are among countries currently considering Rice and shine implementing similar permits. A woman carries a pile of rice straw in Preah Khe commune of Kampong Speu province’s Baset district on Saturday. The Kingdom exported 76,222 tonnes of milled rice The EU is also working on a vaccine worth $64.53 million and 287,850 tonnes of paddy in the first two months of this year.HONG MENEA “green pass” that would allow citizens to travel between member countries and abroad. China’s programme includes an encrypted QR code that allows each country to obtain a travellers’ health Cambodia chalks up five oil wells information, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported on March 9. Thou Vireak form featured in KrisEnergy’s “Mini- could reach a peak rate of approxi- “Estimates show that we’ll pump out “QR health codes” within WeChat Phase 1A” development – in the off- mately 7,500 barrels of crude per between 7,000 and 7,500 barrels a day, and other Chinese smartphone apps SINGAPORE-BASED oil and gas firm shore Cambodia Block A concession day. “If the five wells perform well, which is a considerably miniscule vol- are already required to gain entry to KrisEnergy Ltd began extracting of the Khmer Basin’s Apsara oilfield. [KrisEnergy] will drill even more ume that won’t leave a profound domestic transport and many public crude oil from four additional wells And the PV Drilling III jack-up rig wells as their plans dictate.” impact on our economy soon, but a spaces in China. late last month, according to Cheap began drilling the remaining four wells In late December, Hun Sen said the good start for the oil and gas industry The apps track a user’s location and Sour, a senior official at the Ministry A-02D through A-05D on January 30, Kingdom could net about $30 million in Cambodia,” the prime minister said. produce a “green” code – synony- of Mines and Energy. according to Prime Minister Hun Sen. per annum from the commodity if December 28’s highly-anticipated mous with good health – if a user has This comes after the December 28 Sour, director-general of the min- international oil prices remain at milestone extraction from offshore not been in close contact with a con- maiden oil extraction from the A-01D istry’s General Department of Petro- around $55 per barrel, citing predic- firmed case or has not travelled to a well – part of the five-well mini-plat- leum, told The Post that the five wells tions from energy minister Suy Sem. Continued – page 6 virus hotspot. AFP

Search for sunken Progress lifts hopes UXO wrecks expands for initiation of fta to Kandal, Prey Veng talks with EAEU bloc nATIONAL – page 3 business – page 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Hun Sen reiterates call Nationwide school closures for social distancing as begin anew as Covid spreads situation turns ‘critical’ Voun Dara Continued from page 1 before this law are still valid until another legal standard HE Ministry of Education, Youth Assembly who will seek ratifi- is announced. and Sport has announced the cation from the King or head Meanwhile, Hun Sen has re- suspension of some state and of state.” iterated calls for all families to private schools in the capital and The draft law consists of six keep their children indoors. provincesT due to the spread of Covid-19. chapters and 18 articles, with He also advised that the el- The education ministry has also in- jurisdiction to enforce mea- derly and adults refrain from structed all national departments and sures to prevent the spread of going out unless absolutely staff members to work from home. 10 the Covid-19 and other seri- necessary and to wear a mask per cent of the officials are to be put on ous, dangerous, and conta- while doing so. standby in these units. gious diseases in Cambodia. The prime minister warned These measures are according to the But many of its details will that the Covid-19 situation is instructions of Prime Minister Hun Sen likely be prescribed in sub- critical now with infections and are intended for the purpose of pre- decrees that will come later. rapidly spreading through venting the spread of Covid-19. The draft law lays out condi- Phnom Penh and the prov- Separately, on March 9 the Ministry of tions regarding bans on trav- inces of Preah Sihanouk and Labour and Vocational Training decided elling, gatherings and trading Prey Veng as well as some to temporarily suspend in-person stud- activities as well as lockdown parts of Kandal province. ies at the Technical and Vocational Edu- of places determined to be the “We don’t actually know cation and Training institutes in Prey source of infections and ban of where exactly the outbreak of Veng, Kampong Cham and Koh Kong products linked to the spread the disease originated,” he said. provinces, but these educational institu- of a contagious disease. Meanwhile, the prime min- tions are instructed to continue to oper- A number of state and private schools have been suspended as Covid-19 spreads. HENG CHIVOAN Individuals and institutions ister ordered the temporary ate their respective programmes online. that violate the health mea- suspension of all state insti- The Ministry of Education decided to area? I let His Excellency, the provincial to work from home online and at least 10 sures defined by this law will tutions and instructed them maintain the total closure of state and governor of Prey Veng conduct a practi- per cent of their officials were to be put face administrative and crim- to reduce the number of staff private schools in Phnom Penh, Kandal cal inspection. Surely, some parts are to on standby. All meetings are to be held inal responsibility ranging by at least 90 per cent. He also province and Preah Sihanoukville and be closed. But because up to 11 people online when necessary. from monetary fines to hav- urged private businesses to Stung Hav in Preah Sihanouk province got infected on March 8 from the doc- Education ministry officials have to con- ing their business licences re- work from home as the coun- because of the continued risks from tor, the outbreak area should be closed?” tinue to submit and organise documents voked or even imprisonment. try grapples with the large- community transmission of Covid-19. Hun Sen queried. on the digital system until further notice. The most serious possible scale community outbreak. Notice of suspension of all educational Hun Sen called on citizens to always re- Ministry of Education spokesman Ros prison term under this law is a “[State institutions] must have institutions in Peamro district, Prey Veng main cautious and be alert and to remem- Soveacha said on March 9 that in order sentence of 10 to 20 years for only a small number of people province, was given on March 9. Hun ber that those who contracted Covid-19 to tackle Covid-19 head-on, the minis- an individual who intention- on standby. The suspension will Sen addressed the nation on March 8 didn’t typically just die suddenly. try had continued to attentively moni- ally spreads Covid-19 or other be for at least seven days. instructing citizens to take all possible “In cases of infection, we don’t know tor and assess the practical situation dangerous diseases while act- Hun Sen also urged an end to measures to prevent further spread of to what extent this disease might destroy of Covid-19 along with the Ministry of ing under orders from an or- all non-essential meetings and Covid-19 in Cambodia due to the growth us. Not contracting it is the best [safety Health, Phnom Penh and provincial au- ganised group. gatherings as health authori- of the outbreak. precaution]. That’s what I’ve been trying thorities and relevant parties. The minis- Criminal responsibility for ties are working to determine Hun Sen said that he didn’t order a to tell you, urgently,” Hun Sen said. try will further inform the public of new the spread of disease under the origin of the outbreak. lockdown of Prey Veng province but that On March 9, the Ministry of Education developments. the law can be eliminated or “This is a tremendous chal- the provincial governor of Prey Veng also notified national education minis- “Overall, units under the Ministry of Ed- reduced if a violator or their lenge that warrants neces- would have to check out the situation try departments and staff members of ucation linked to the February 20 commu- family informs and cooperates sary measures to protect the in the area that was exposed to Covid- stricter measures to prevent the spread nity incident have now arranged to con- with health officials or relevant health of individuals, fami- 19 when a doctor was infected there and of Covid-19 because community trans- sistently carry out the instructions of the authorities in efforts to stop lies and society as a whole. I had passed it on to an additional 11 peo- mission has continued unabated after Ministry of Health, including testing peo- further spread of the disease. call for an end to gatherings ple in Peamro district as of March 8. the February 20 transmission incident. ple linked to the incident as announced by Article 16 states that all to minimise the risks,” he “The schools should be closed in the Education officials are now permitted the Ministry of Health,” he said. health measures put in place said. M’kiri families seek help in land row vs ‘powerful officer’ Long Kimmarita and measurement by officers. “We will propose to [relevant depart- NEARLY 200 families of Andong Kralo- ment] to come measure and inspect eng village in Mondulkiri province are the area to know if it affects commu- calling on authorities to prevent further nity or sanctuary land. I am also not clearing of land in the community by a sure if we will [submit] the letter soon,” powerful policeman known as Thang she said. Rithy. However, land clearing activities Local authority Thvan Trel said that continue despite the community and regarding the issue, it is not clear yet authorities trying to stop them. whether this person has a legal right According to community head Soka to occupy it. However, she just knows Thot, 51ha of land has been cleared of that the person has previously bought which 12ha is community land. Rithy land from villagers. has claimed that he has legal rights to She said: “I am not sure about how fence the land and take nearly 40ha of Rithy came to clear land but there were it. Residents say that this land was people from the community who sold always natural forestland. it to him. If not, he would not just simply Sokha Thot told The Post March 9 take it, right? As for buying and selling, that the person who had set up the I have not seen any documents yet. I do fence around the 40ha of land is not dare to conclude anything but will Thang Rithy – a powerful police offic- wait for everybody to register first er in Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri, and because I have never met the person Stung Treng provinces. [Thang Rithy].” He added that at first this person Kreung Tola, a coordinator for the pro- and his associates had cleared 51ha vincial Indigenous People Network said of land in 2020 and set up a bound- on March 9 that the case was abuse of ary fence. Following this, the com- power because minor authorities munity had banned activities and wouldn’t dare come and try to solve the filed a complaint to the provincial problem of land being cleared. Villagers protest land grab in Mondulkiri province on Monday. Kreung Tola court requesting a halt to them in “This is abuse of power and breaks order to determine land ownership commune chief told [them] to stop The Post could not reach Thang continued, she said that she will send a the law,” he said. and whether there had been any but they did not listen,” he said. Rithy for comment. letter of complaint to the provincial Mondulkiri deputy governor and encroachment on community land. According to Sokha Thot, the land Thvan Trel, commune chief of Sen department of land management, provincial hall spokesman Cheak “There has been clearing since 2020 has more than 1,000ha and demar- Monorom of O’Raing district in the urban planning and construction, and Mengheang confirmed that he had and on February 28, we patrolled the cation had been recognised by rel- province, said on March 9 that after other relevant departments to immedi- not yet received details about the land and saw that they started clearing evant ministries in 2017. The com- reports from the community about the ately resolve the issue. case. However, he claimed that he again. Then on March 4, we tried to munity was established in 2007 and clearing, the authorities immediately However, there is no document yet would send a team to investigate it stop it, but [they] wouldn’t stop. The has nearly 200 families. went to the scene. As clearing land has and she is still waiting for inspection in the future. THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Conman caught Search for sunken UXO wrecks impersonating 2-star general ANTEAY Meanchey provincial expanding to Kandal, Prey Veng Military Police sent a 44-year-old Bman to the military court in Phnom Nov Sivutha Penh after arresting him for wearing a fake two-star general uniform in Poipet RIME Minister Hun town on March 8. Sen has instructed Theam Pheakdey, chief of information officials to continue and security at the provincial Military searching for un- Police, said that the suspect lives in explodedP ordnance (UXO) O’Kanthor commune’s O’Kanthor Khang in and around a shipwreck Tbong village of Kampong Thom prov- in the Mekong River and in ince’s Stung Sen town. four other areas of Kandal The Military Police arrested him in and Prey Veng provinces. Poipet commune’s Palilay II village and The wreck is a warship he was then sent to the military court for that sank during the civil further questioning. war between 1970 and 1975. Pheakdey said the arrest was made Officials said the four areas following a complaint made by villagers include Kandal’s Lvea Em in Poipet town. After receiving the com- and Khsach Kandal districts plaint, the Military Police sought legal and Prey Veng’s Peam Chor coordination from deputy prosecutor Men and Peamro districts. Hong at the military court. Mey Sophea, commander “After arresting him, Military Police of- of the UXO Clearance Unit ficers questioned him to build a case file of the National Centre for and then sent him to the military court for Peacekeeping Forces and further action,” he said. Explosive Remnants of War Pheakdey declined to elaborate any Clearance (NPMEC-ERW), further on the matter. told The Post that the de- According to a Military Police officer cision to continue under- who asked not to be named, the suspect water salvage operations did not serve in the army or as a civil came after the operation in servant in any capacity. He confessed Meanchey commune’s Veal that he had cheated some villagers by village of Kampong Cham disguising himself as a two-star general province’s Srei Santhor dis- and that he had bought the uniform and trict was judged to be near- taken photos of himself wearing it as ing completion. props to show to vulnerable victims to Sophea said since October trick them. last year, the clearing opera- He further confessed that before this tions in Kampong Cham has arrest he had already cheated a few recovered 15,282kg of UXO, people out of some money. He told the some weapons and skeletal victims that he held the rank of a two- Basket of bullets recovered from the Mekong River bed in Kampong Cham province’s Srei Santhor district on Monday. interior ministry human remains. star general in the Royal Cambodian The warship will be lifted water – must be removed is that Cambodia has ratified This operation will start at tonnes of UXO in the form of Armed Forces and if the victims had any from the Mekong River bed so that Cambodia can enjoy the Ottawa Treaty, which in- Lvea Em district’s Boeung ammunition shipped from a problems at all he could help them – for at the end of this month or full peace and security. cludes a pledge ensuring Krom commune of Kandal site located in modern-day a fee. in early April. “The prime minister cares there are no mines on Cam- province. It will take one Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The photo and uniform made the Sophea said Hun Sen had about the next generation’s bodian territory by 2025, year to clear all four loca- Known then as Saigon – at victims believe that the man was really given his permission to ex- safety. Left intact, the under- and UXO are also included tions, he said. the time the capital city of a military official and had erased their pand UXO search on Janu- water UXO could in the next in the treaty,” he said. According to preliminary South Vietnam – it was the suspicions entirely, according to the ary 26. The prime minister 100 years turn into other toxic According to Sophea, his team research, the site where the site of the largest US military suspect. said it was necessary that substances and such pollu- has been preparing to begin warship sank in the river in bases during the Vietnam Military court spokesman Sar Sareth all UXO left over from the tion of the river water affects search and clearance opera- Lvea Em district’s Boeung War, a conflict which rough- could not be reached for comment on war – whether it is under- every Cambodian,” he said. tions at the four other sites Krom commune is estimated ly coincided with the period March 9. Kim Sarom ground, on land or under- “Another [related matter] starting as early as next week. to have been carrying 500 of civil war in Cambodia. Hun Sen: Deceased Covid-19 patients to be cremated Mom Kunthear on writing a sub-decree concerning take samples until the work was to be the municipal administration noted The Ministry of Health is in the proc- health measures, a sub-decree on finished on March 10 or 11. that these locations were expected to ess of verifying another 60 suspected PRIME Minister Hun Sen has decided cremation and regulations such as Sophorn continued that the author- respect all health measures. Covid-19 patients and has sent 19 of that for all such cases where people the number of participants allowed ities had temporarily closed down On March 9, the Ministry of Health them to be medically monitored at die due to Covid-19 – should there be at a cremation service. travel in the area for foreign nationals found 49 new Covid-19 infected Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel while 11 oth- any fatalities – those person’s bodies “We also have to establish regula- and workers at the casinos in the patients with 48 of them linked to the ers are staying at Hun Sen Borey 100 will be cremated to make manage- tions on how quickly a corpse must Chrey Thom area. But other citizens February 20 community incident, Khnong High School in Phnom Penh. ment of the task easier. be cremated after a death from Cov- could cross through the area and raising the total for the February 20 As of March 9, excluding the unver- He also requested that crematori- id-19 that takes disease transmission goods could also cross it. community incident to 549. ified cases, Cambodia has recorded ums in the capital and provinces pre- into account,” he said. Siem Reap provincial governor Tea The 49 patients included 19 Cam- 1,060 confirmed Covid-19 infected pare for a possible increase in The Kandal provincial administra- Seiha has ordered the armed forces bodians, 28 Chinese nationals and patients with 538 recoveries and 521 demand for their services as the total tion has decided to temporarily close based in his province and a working one Indonesian national. patients in ongoing treatment. number of people hospitalised for six casinos and restrict the movements group from the health department to the disease has risen dramatically. of people in the Chrey Thom area in put up barriers and check all exits In an audio message on March 9, Sampov Puon commune of Koh Thom and entrances in the province in Hun Sen said the situation in regards district after six foreign nationals there order to take data regarding the plans to Covid-19 in Cambodia had never had tested positive for Covid-19. and destinations of travellers. before been more critical and that it Kandal provincial governor Kong The barriers on some roads will be was still continuing to worsen. Sophorn told The Post on March 9 that put up in the province in the districts Given the realities of the situation a these six casinos were converted into of Stoung, Chi Kraeng, Kralanh, Preah decision had to be made as to wheth- quarantine centres and that 6,597 peo- Netr Preah and along the waterway. er Covid-19 patients would be cre- ple working there had to be tested. He Seiha said that if people encounter- mated or buried. After consulting said that six people – four Chinese ing these road blocks are found to be Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng, he nationals and two Vietnamese nationals from at-risk areas such as Phnom Penh, said he had decided on cremation. – had tested positive for Covid-19 so far. Preah Sihanouk and Prey Veng prov- “Cambodians traditionally always “The people [in quarantine at the inces, then they will be taken to a quar- burn or cremate the dead – it’s a meth- casinos] are a mix of nationalities such antine centre and have test samples od that is easy to manage. I also asked as Khmer, Chinese, Vietnamese and taken. bThose who come from other that crematoriums in the capital and Indonesian. Because this location has provinces will have their temperatures provinces be organised in case deaths enough capacity to guarantee security checked and be asked to scan a QR Code. from Covid-19 occur in places where both inside and outside, we decided to Phnom Penh authorities have per- people might reside far away from any use it as a quarantine centre,” he said. mitted 23 locations that were former- crematoriums,” he said. He added that as of March 9, there ly linked to Covid-19 positive indi- Hun Sen also requested that health had been 1,600 samples that were viduals to reopen on March 9 after minister and Minister of Justice Koeut taken from those present and that a having had their operations suspend- Police officers stand guard at a casino at Chrey Thom International Border Checkpoint Rith and other colleagues get to work working group was continuing to ed for some time now. The notice from in Kandal province on Tuesday. supplied 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National Dry-season rice crop exceeds Three boys drown in Preah Vihear, parents’ target by more than 200,000ha ‘negligence’ to blame

Orm Bunthoeurn Khouth Sophak Chakrya Phanit, to also tend to the cattle. “I sent my first son to tend HE dry-season rice KULEN district police in to the cattle. There has never crop this year of more Preah Vihear province said on been a problem because from than 600,000ha has March 9 that three boys had my house to the hitching exceeded the planned drowned in a pond while they posts behind the school is no goalT by over 200,000ha, or were returning from tending more than 500m,” he said. 137.39 per cent of the original cattle near Srayong Second- He added that 30 minutes total of just over 400,000ha. ary High School. later, Phanit had returned in The excess of more than Kim Saroeun, the district tears and broke the news that 200,000ha has yielded a mil- deputy police chief in charge Chanbot, Phal and Chetra lion tonnes of rice with an of the criminal division, told had drowned. annual average of 4.41 tonnes The Post that the boys – Chet The man and his wife then per hectare, according to a Phal, 10; Sok Chetra, 9; and ran to the scene and cried February report from the Min- Phat Chanbot, 6 – came from for help from the neigh- istry of Agriculture, Forestry Srayong Cheurng village in bours. However, by the time and Fisheries seen by The Post Srayong commune. They they reached the pond and on March 9. had bathed in a pond and searched the area, the boys The report, dated March 5, drowned at about 12pm on had already died. said until now, the output of March 8. According to a report from dry-season rice has achieved “We were so saddened to commune police and seen 630,883ha or 137.39 per cent see their parents retrieve the by The Post on March 9, the of the planned 459,200ha. The bodies from the pond. They first two boys had met the Farmers cultivate rice in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district on March 1. HENG CHIVOAN harvesting of an extra 247,089ha hugged the bodies and cried. other boys while on the way totals 1,090,334 tonnes of dry- fecting crops. The specialists rice crops than others. They three major challenges: water “The death of the three boys to the hitching posts. While season rice, an average yield of have to be ready to work when include Prey Veng, which shortages, prices and costs. was caused by negligence on returning home, they decided 4.41 tonne per hectare. farmers suffer an impact. achieved 111,279ha of dry-sea- “I have noticed that the first the part of their parents be- to bathe in the pond. How- “The production of dry-sea- In a Facebook page on son crops; Takeo, 107,377ha; is water problems. I mean cause they had allowed their ever, they slipped into deep son rice was achieved from March 5, minister Veng Sak- Kampong Thom, 76,956ha; that sometimes they [farm- children to bathe in the pond water where the sides were 630,964ha of ploughed land. hon said although Cambodia Kandal, 55,047ha; and Ban- ers] have sufficient water, and without the supervision of an steep and three of them had Of the number, 4,257ha [about and other countries in the Me- teay Meanchey at 50,511ha,” sometimes they don’t because adult,” he said. drowned. 0.67 per cent] were ploughed kong River Basin had encoun- he said. in some areas water is lim- Concerning the case, 33- The report said: “This pond by cattle and 626,707ha [about tered challenging problems The General Directorate of ited. The second is price issue. year-old Ler Sophat who is the is 3m deep with steep sides. 99.33 per cent] by machinery,” such as the high levels of the Agriculture forecast that the to- Prices are a systemic problem. father of Phat Chanbot, told It is easy to slip into the deep the report said. Mekong River during the rainy tal dry-season rice harvest this I mean it is harvested imme- The Post that on the morning water, posing a risk to life if The ministry also encour- season last year, it has led to year which ends in April could diately and needs to be sold of the incident, his son had those who bathe in the pond aged all agricultural special- some provinces growing a lot be more than 2.6 million tonnes. immediately. So, it is hard to led cattle to hitching posts don’t know how to swim.” ists to pay attention and to more rice crops. Agricultural expert Yang collect the yields. The third in- behind Srayong Secondary intervene when there is dam- “After inspection, specialists Saing Koma said that while volves production costs. I have High School where they could www.phnompenhpost.com age due to natural disasters, saw that five of 25 provinces growing dry-season rice crops, seen that they have spent very graze. Having had lunch, he check the post website vermin, and other diseases af- have grown more dry-season Cambodians had experienced much,” he said. had sent his other son, Phat for breaking news THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Takeo set to get tough on sidewalk vendors Nov Sivutha sugar cane juice stalls. He claimed this could affect TAKEO provincial governor public order and it would Ouch Phea told The Post that cause accidents eventually. the provincial administration Takeo province manages 30km – in collaboration with local of National Road 3 authorities – are going to crack He further stated that Nation- down on vendors selling wares al Road 3 is scheduled to be out on the streets, sidewalks finished in September and that and roadsides in urban areas. it is a high-speed road requiring Phea said the problem was [more] order [near it] to ensure particularly bad along National the safety of people travelling Roads 2 and 3 because many on it and passing through. people were using the side streets “It’s an issue that requires the to do business and sell goods. provincial councils and districts Phea said that people who along the national roads to con- are selling goods in the street sider [the maintenance] of pub- or who illegally construct stalls lic order and therefore ban on the sidewalks were affect- them from selling goods there. ing public order and contrib- It could be a big issue in the uting to traffic accidents. future if people are invading the In the past, authorities had road’s sidewalk,” he said. merely stopped offenders and Additionally, National Road 2 educated them about their is scheduled to be completed in behaviour but then they would April of 2022, he noted, saying just return to business as usu- that the road doesn’t have prop- al once the officials had left. er construction signs and that Two vendors are seen along Sothearos Blvd in Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district. HENG CHIVOAN Phea, however, confirmed the construction company hadn’t that on behalf of the provincial maintained the road properly, administration, he would first which was a problem that would try to resolve this issue by try- need to be solved soon. ing to educate people to coop- Khorn Sokha, a motorist on Women faced ‘tough’ 2020 erate with the authorities and National Road 3 said that he’s voluntarily stop selling goods pretty sure that people selling Lay Samean The report also states that Cambodia. This leading to a Regarding law enforcement, on the sidewalks or construct- things on the sidewalks or “by 2020, the epidemic will loss of income and they have she said the government ing stalls on the roadsides roadsides was a national phe- HE Cambodian NGO lead to a number of reduc- to look after their children has been paying close atten- along the national roads. nomenon and not restricted to Committee on CEDAW tions, including the cancel- who cannot go to school,” the tion to implement activities “We are dealing with this issue Takeo province in the least, (NGO-CEDAW) which lation of major international report stated. to prevent violence against heavily in the urban areas, espe- though the authorities seldom works on gender and meetings on women, as many At the same time, NGO- women in Cambodia. cially along busy streets, which paid much attention to it. women’sT rights in Cambodia, international partners tem- CEDAW has made a number “The women’s affairs min- is a concern. We know that our However, Sokha welcomed identified challenges women porary leave Cambodia. And of recommendations to the istry has also developed poli- people like to use the sidewalks the provincial authority’s pledg- face during the Covid-19 epi- most of training activities and Cambodian government to cies, mechanisms and activi- to sell their wares so that is why es to deal with the problem. He demic such as those related to meetings with the govern- improve the implementation ties, Neary Rattanak strategic we’re having the authorities look urged other provinces to take health, rights, and education, ment are postponed indefi- of the CEDAW Convention, plan, the National Action Plan into the matter first,” he said. action as well, because, he said, especially the economic hard- nitely or happening online.” including allocating suffi- to prevent violence against Oum Ouk, a member of Takeo if people are not guided or edu- ships in families at risk. The report added that busi- cient national budget for the women, the Action Plan to Provincial Council, said that cated to no longer sell goods on According to the 18-page nesses where women used to implementation of the Third prevent young age marriage people living along National the sidewalk then they will con- report on the implementation work were closed, including National Action Plan to pre- and adolescent pregnancy Roads 2 and 3 had taken over tinue to do so – and it will cause of the 2020 CEDAW Conven- bars, massage places, cin- vent violence against women, and the law to prevent domes- the sidewalks to use for selling traffic accidents and disorder tion for Cambodia, released emas, travel agencies, guest- amend and strengthen ef- tic violence as well,” she said. goods like ice containers or for on the roads. on March 9, by 2020 Cambo- houses, hotels, restaurants fective law enforcement to In 2020, the government dia will face many challenges and the construction sector. eliminate violence against launched a cash assistant pro- for women’s rights. Mean- Throughout 2020, there have close partners, sexual violence gramme for poor and vulner- while, there will also be an been numerous media reports against girls and all forms of able families during the fight improvement in the dialogue of men killing their partners, gender-based violence. against Covid-19, which is a between government and leading to an increase in do- Secretary of state for the key tool to reduce the impact civil society to find solutions mestic violence cases, accord- Ministry of Women’s Affairs of the virus in Cambodia. to those challenges as well. ing to NGO-CEDAW. Man Chenda told The Post on This programme provides “The most outstanding chal- “The family economy March 9 that the ministry is temporary assistance to citi- lenges are related to health, caused by the Covid-19 crisis currently continuing to pro- zens identified as from poor education and economic could also be a risk factor for vide counselling (legal and households (poor 1 and poor hardship due to the spread of domestic violence. In fact, the psychological) and facilitate 2) and is implemented in Covid-19, which puts women number of female migrant referrals to relevant services in parallel with the cash sub- and LGBT people facing diffi- workers returning home has cases of violence against wom- sidy programme for pregnant cult challenges at a dispropor- increased and there is no op- en during unemployment, ed- women, and children (0-2 tionate rate,” the report said. portunity to earn a living in ucation and loss of income. years old). Vendors doing business along National Road 3. Hean Rangsey Annual Nat’l Reading Day event to be held virtually Voun Dara of the opening of book week, Naron Book Week is organized to promote said “I appeal to all pupils, students reading and the development of a liter- MINISTER of Education, Youth and and readers to seek out and buy good ary culture in Cambodia, as well as to Sport Hang Chuon Naron called on books to read and join our online dis- promote the publishing industry here. students and all book lovers to cele- cussions, which will be broadcast live “While we continue to battle Covid-19, brate Cambodia’s National Reading all throughout book week. This can this online book week is a vital resource Day on March 11. increase their knowledge and skills and for students and readers to participate Due to Covid-19, festivities will be give them some of the [wisdom] neces- in a cultural activity that is about litera- held online this year during Book Week. sary to succeed in life and society.” ture and where they can learn about Naron said that those interested will be The ministry said that national new authors and books,” Naron said. able to find discount deals on books reading day and book week consists The ministry is also organizing and get the opportunity to gain a lot of of important events such as reading online discussions on Zoom focused knowledge from experts. contests, poetry readings, and a writ- on three different themes including: The education ministry announced ing contest – with the winners all Reading and Youth, Reading and Life, on March 9 that this national reading receiving Samdech Hun Sen Awards. and Reading and Children. day – the sixth annual day so desig- Also to be included in the events are These discussions will be joined by nated – would have the theme of presentations about the Khmer litera- writers, readers, scholars, teachers “reading in the context of Covid-19”. ture and language from the middle and the parents of students. To celebrate National Reading Day period based on the Nokor Wat stone Students and readers can get more and Book Week while also abiding by inscriptions, a lecture on the value of information about reading day and the government’s Covid-19 preven- Reamker literature in Cambodian soci- book week from the official Facebook tive measures, the ministry will ety, a conference discussing the pri- page of the Cambodia Book Fair, Pub- organize online activities for six days mary school library situation presently lishing Distribution House page or from March 9-14. in Cambodia and a talk on the connec- the page of the Ministry of Education Students at the National Reading Day event in Phnom Penh last year. Supplied In remarks prepared for the occasion tion between libraries and early reading. Youth and Sport. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 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 4,060 1.2611 6.5153 108.69 4.1175 1.3455 30.79 0.7701 1.1901 1.3893

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: March 9, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 16,700 16,540 16,760 16,500 2 GTI 3,400 3,400 3,400 3,350 3 PAS 12,880 12,900 12,980 12,880 4 PEPC 2,900 2,870 2,940 2,870 5 PPAP 12,240 12,300 12,340 12,220 6 PPSP 1,610 1,590 1,610 1,590 7 PWSA 6,220 6,300 6,320 6,200 ‘Best path to Progress lifts hopes for EAEU FTA optimise oil Thou Vireak production ROSPECTS of a formal initia- tion of free trade agreement in Kingdom’ (FTA) talks with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Continued from page 1 haveP improved as early talks witness an increasingly positive sentiment, Block A made the Kingdom the according to Ministry of Commerce eighth oil producer in the spokesman Seang Thay. 10-member ASEAN, with only Comprising five member states – Singapore and land-locked Laos Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyr- not producing crude. gyzstan and Russia – the EAEU is In a press statement issued home to 184.6 million people and the following day, Kelvin Tang, represents a combined gross domes- president and CEO of KrisEn- tic product (GDP) of $4.778 trillion, ergy’s Cambodian operations, according to International Monetary stressed that Apsara’s first drop Fund estimates for 2020. of oil marks a 10-year journey Thay told The Post that completion of from when KrisEnergy initially negotiations with China and South Ko- became a partner in Block A. rea had motivated the inter-ministerial “I convey my heartfelt appre- committees in charge of FTA talks with ciation to all relevant ministries other countries and economic unions and authorities for their assist- to forge ahead with discussions. ance, cooperation and their ded- “We have not yet been able to gauge ication to get the Apsara oil devel- which country would be the first to opment over the line. KrisEnergy come through,” he said, listing the EAEU is honoured to be a part of this along with the US, the UK, Japan, Mon- historic occasion,” he said. Trade between Cambodia and the EAEU was worth $67.37 million last year, up by 18.22 per cent over 2019. HENG CHIVOAN golia and India as potential contenders. With Covid-19 hanging over “If any team ascertains that [an Trade Agreement (CKFTA) via video link. National Assembly approval on both tural products and textiles, while im- the world, Tang added: “Pro- FTA] would be profitable, then that Speaking at the ceremony, Sorasak sides. The two countries signed the ports consist of machinery, tractors and gressing Apsara to first oil has team would report that and request a mentioned that the Kingdom was ex- pact on October 12 following three spare parts for agricultural machinery. been a tremendous achievement decision from the government in or- ploring similar deals with India, the rounds of negotiations held between Bilateral trade between Cambodia and a testament to the determi- der to open negotiations” once both UK and EAEU. January and July last year. and the EAEU was worth $67.37 mil- nation of the KrisEnergy team countries have consented, he added. “We’ve met with a handful of coun- Cambodia Chamber of Commerce lion last year, marking an increase of and the strong cooperation of Cambodia and South Korea on Feb- tries to discuss an FTA. We’re willing to vice-president Lim Heng told The 18.22 per cent compared to 2019’s our contractors and suppliers. ruary 3 concluded talks for a bilateral liberalise the Cambodian market for our Post last month that the EAEU’s vast $56.98 million, according to data “Our task now is to complete FTA, which minister Pan Sorasak and people in order to enable them to export population and thriving economy from the commerce ministry. drilling of the four remaining his Korean counterpart Yoo Myung- more goods and improve the trade bal- represent a vital target market for the Of that, the Kingdom exported wells, stabilise production and hee plan to sign in mid-2021, accord- ance. We’re all making every effort to Kingdom’s goods. $52.19 million worth of goods, inch- monitor performance so that ing to a joint press statement. achieve outstanding results,” he said. Calling for Cambodia to capture a ing up 0.73 per cent year-on-year from we may assess the best path for- The two ministers signed the agreed Meanwhile, the Cambodia-China larger slice of the market, Heng pointed $51.81 million in 2019, and imported ward to optimise Cambodia’s oil minutes on the conclusion of nego- Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) will out that the better part of the Kingdom’s $15.18 million, rocketing 193.57 per production and the value of the tiations over the Cambodia-Korea Free enter into force this year, pending exports to the bloc comprise of agricul- cent from $5.17 million. asset in the years ahead.” Canada farm inks MoU with Prek Leap agriculture college May Kunmakara the MoU … [and] Prek Leap will play development programme in Cambo- only complementary, but also pro- the Calgary-based biotech firm. a leading role in the research and dia since the completion of the com- vide the solid foundation for impor- It added: “[Asia Cannabis Industry] TORONTO-listed Asia Green Biotech- development of industrial and other pany’s IPO [initial public offering]. tant hemp-oriented research and is prepared to jointly provide mana- nology Corp (AGB) has inked a memo- varieties of hemp using Cambodian “With this step, which is comple- development programmes. gerial input, equipment, intellectual randum of understanding (MoU) with heritage varieties and varieties pro- mented by the ongoing discussions “We look forward to a long and property and material to facilitate the the Prek Leap National Institute of vided by AGB and its partners in maintained by AGB with other fruitful business relationship with operational needs of this project. Agriculture in Phnom Penh (Prek Leap) order to obtain suitable varieties that authorities in Cambodia, we will this institution,” he added. “Next steps include setting budget- to advance production techniques of can be utilised for biofuel, fibre, food, begin to initiate the introduction and The global industrial hemp market ary limits, formulating research and medicinal and commercial crops. foundation and medical proposes. evaluation of certain varieties of is forecasted to skyrocket to $26.6 bil- related protocols, and liaising with “The purpose of this agreement is to “The partners intend to study culti- hemp plants which may pave the way lion by 2025, from the $4.6 billion other government departments for allow AGB and Prek Leap to collabo- vation systems and techniques for for establishment of a new and posted in 2019, according to Research input on the processes. rate in the pursuit and execution of a production and industrial use of important agricultural and related and Markets. “Prek Leap engages in research and business development plan tied to the hemp in Cambodia with the aim of processing industry in the region. In addition to AGB and Prek Leap, development activities as well as gen- evaluation and implementation of applying the knowledge gained direct- “Of course, we are very excited and signatories to the MoU include InPlan- eral operations as an educational seed and plant production techniques ly to current agricultural practises pleased to have found a new research ta Biotechnology Inc, which is control- institution in Phnom Penh.” relating to hemp and other plants with employed in the country,” it said. partner in Prek Leap, as it maintains led by Dr Igor Kovalchuk, a professor On the Canadian Securities medicinal, practical or other benefits,” AGB CEO David Pinkman said: “The similar aspirations for the develop- in epigenetics at the University of Leth- Exchange, AGB’s share price inched AGB said on March 8. execution of this agreement with Prek ment of a progressive and positive bridge in Canada’s Alberta province, as down C$0.04 (US$0.032) or 24.24 per “[AGB] continues to successfully Leap is a major step forward for [AGB], hemp industry in Cambodia. well as local firm Asia Cannabis Indus- cent to close at C$0.13 on March 8 for implement its business plan in as we have been pursuing the estab- “The technical and practical abili- try Co Ltd, which “has provided con- a market capitalisation of C$4.53 mil- Southeast Asia with the execution of lishment of an effective research and ties of our respective teams are not sulting services to AGB”, according to lion, with 2,500 shares traded. THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Chin Hin Group buys Covid delays WtE power plant 31% of Signature Int’l Hin Pisei MALAYSIA’S Chin Hin Group tensive presence abroad for HE prolongation of Bhd has added another listed its future expansion. the Covid-19 out- company to its portfolio, fol- It is noteworthy that Sig- break has led to a lowing the acquisition of a nature is currently present in delay in a feasibility 31.2 per cent stake in Malay- Cambodia, Thailand, Indone- studyT of building a waste-to- sia’s largest kitchen cabinet sia, Vietnam, Brunei, the Phil- energy (WtE) plant with at and wardrobe manufacturer, ippines, Maldives, Pakistan, least 50MW of total electric- Signature International Bhd. the UAE, Sri Lanka, India and ity generating capacity near Chin Hin, which is a ma- Singapore. Phnom Penh, according to jor shareholder in Chin Hin Chiau said: “Upon comple- Ministry of Mines and Energy Group Property Bhd and tion of the acquisition, the spokesman Victor Jona. Solarvest Holdings Bhd, group will be able to equity Early last year, the ministry emerged as Signature’s single- account the financial results said an inter-ministerial working largest shareholder by pur- of Signature, which is expect- group was looking for partners chasing 80 million ordinary ed to increase the profitability to invest in the project, which shares from Tenyin Holding and strengthen the financial would not only generate elec- Sdn Bhd and Chooi Yoey Sun position of the group.” tricity for consumption, but also for 93.6 million ringgit ($22.75 The 36-year-old Chiau was reduce the amount of rubbish million). appointed as an executive di- going into the capital’s landfills. Chooi is the group execu- rector of Signature on March 8. Jona told The Post on March tive director and a major Chin Hin said the 93.6 9 that progress on the project shareholder of Signature. million ringgit needed is trailing behind last year’s The acquisition would al- to fund the acquisition pace, with no significant de- low Chin Hin to venture into will be sourced from a velopments reported. kitchen, home and living combination of internally He stressed that the min- solutions as compared to generated funds and bank istry had not abandoned the Phnom Penh reportedly produced an average of 3,000-3,500 tonnes of rubbish per day last year, of which 30- 35 per cent could have been incinerated for electricity, according to a senior energy official. hENG CHIVOAN its focus on building mate- borrowings, after taking into project, but had kept it on the rials currently, according to consideration the group’s back burner during the Covid- it falls under, Jona said, adding Cambodia’s projected peak use of coal or fossil fuels which its managing director Chiau gearing level, interest costs 19 pandemic and the strin- that the Ministry of Economy electricity demand in 2020 is are damaging to the environ- Haw Choon. and cash reserves. gent global travel restrictions and Finance would make the 1,700-1,800MW, down from ment. “We always push for He said in a statement: “Sig- The 93.6 million ringgit that followed soon after. final call on the location. 1,900-2,000MW in 2019, he and encourage the recycling nature Group’s products are translates into 1.17 ringgit per A project of this sort requires There are two villages named said. That range could drop to of discarded products.” not only supplied to prop- share, which represents an 18 international specialists, Jona “Tuol Prich” in Kampong speu 1,600-1,700MW in 2021 as de- According to Jona, the King- erty development projects per cent premium to the five- said, pointing out that the – one in Kong Pisei district’s mand for energy in the tourism dom’s total electricity capac- but also directly to consum- day weighted average market restrictions obstruct techni- Maha Russey commune and industry logs a sharp drop. ity currently stands at about ers through its various retail price of Signature shares up cians from making their way another in Samrong Tong dis- He estimated that Phnom 3,000MW. outlets, which will enable the to the last practical date of into the Kingdom. trict’s Trapaing Kong commune Penh produced an average of He said most of its energy is group to tap into the busi- 99.18 sen (24.1 US cents). “We haven’t taken any major further to the northwest. 3,000-3,500 tonnes of rubbish generated through coal-fired ness-to-consumer segment. Signature’s share price hit a steps toward the construction Jona added that while many per day last year, of which 30- plants, hydropower dams, “Synergistic benefits are multi-year high of 1.10 ringgit of the WtE plant, but the gov- companies have looked into 35 per cent could have been heavy fuel oil and solar farms, expected to arise from the on March 5, after surging by ernment’s resolve to develop it investing in WtE plants in the incinerated for electricity. accounting for 37-38 per cent, acquisition as both the group over 129 per cent in two weeks. remains all the same,” he said. Kingdom, their plans are in- Neam Kopy, the CEO of en- 35 per cent, over 10 per cent and Signature are operating However, following the an- A recent Economic and Fi- variably cast aside when they vironmental consulting firm and three per cent of power in and servicing the same in- nouncement on Chin Hin’s nancial Policy Committee find out that the cost of elec- CES Co Ltd (Cambodia Envi- production, respectively. dustry, namely the construc- emergence into Signature, the meeting tentatively set the tricity produced from these ronment Services), told The Some 15 per cent of electric- tion and property develop- latter’s share price plummeted site for the project in “the Tuol projects is too high for the Post last year that WtE pro- ity demand is met by imports ment industry.” by 14.5 sen or 13.2 per cent to Prich area of Kampong Speu” state to buy and feed into the cesses not only improve waste from neighbouring countries, In addition, Chin Hin aims 95.5 sen at March 8’s close. THE without identifying the district national grid system. management, but curtail the he added. to leverage on Signature’s ex- STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Packaging set to ratchet VN rubber firms set cautious profit targets up growth for Mega First MOST of Vietnam’s rubber started to convert its land into companies are setting cautious industrial property. ALTHOUGH Malaysia’s Mega said the group’s packaging arm profit targets for this year over Phuoc Hoa Rubber said it First Corp Bhd has been reaping is expected to face multiple forecasts that rubber prices was facing difficulties from an- benefits from Laos’ Don Sahong cost pressures this year due will remain at low levels. ticipated low rubber demand in power plant, it will continue to to raw material prices, freight The Vietnam Rubber group 2021, a shortage of labour and push for more earnings growth charges and transport costs (VRG) at its shareholders meet- impacts of weather and dis- from its core businesses. despite stronger demand. ing late last month announced eases. In addition, the Covid-19 PublicInvest Research said “In addition, the stronger the 2021 business plans which pandemic would cause difficul- the group’s packaging divi- ringgit may also have a knock- set the after-tax profit 12 per ties in attracting investments in sion would be the key growth on effect on export margins,” cent lower than 2020. its industrial zones. driver in the next three years it added. Specifically, VRG targeted to According to a report from and better sales growth in the Meanwhile, PublicInvest earn revenue of 27.1 trillion FPT Securities, rubber prices limestone business would Research noted that the dong ($1.2 billion) and after- were forecast to stay at low be seen amid anticipation of group’s capital expenditure tax profit of 4.6 trillion dong, levels in 2021, around 32-33 strong economic recovery. for the next four years would an increase of 4.2 per cent in million dong per tonne, which “To cope with increasing de- be close to one billion ringgit. revenue by a drop of 12 per would continue to have nega- mand, the 60-per-cent-owned Mega First plans to allocate cent in profit against 2020. tive impacts on the latex pro- Hexachase Group is currently 200 million ringgit for the en- VRG predicted that 2021 duction of rubber companies seeing aggressive capacity ex- gineering, procurement, con- would be a difficult year, es- and forced many companies pansion for its paper bag and struction and commissioning pecially for latex production to sell rubber wood instead flexible packaging capacities, works should the group be which was the core business of and convert land into indus- Most rubber companies set cautious profit targets for this year over which are expected to in- awarded a Large-Scale Solar 4 the group, as rubber prices were forecasts that rubber prices will stay at low levels. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY trial property. crease by 200 per cent and 100 (LSS4) project. forecast to stay at low levels. Rubber wood prices were per cent, respectively. Besides that, Mega First ex- Last year, the company Lowering profit target this pany reported revenue of 326 predicted to be high this year, “The new capacities will pected its first quarter ending earned revenue of more than year in the context of unpre- billion dong, up 8.3 per cent driven by the high demand for come on stream by the third March 31 energy availability 25.9 trillion dong and after- dictable market would be and net profit of 93 billion export of wood and wooden quarter ending September 30. factor to be higher year-on- tax profit of 5.23 trillion dong, understandable for VRG, Ban dong, up 11 per cent, in 2020. products. Rubber wood pric- “To cater for long- term ca- year supported by better pow- representing rises of 5.67 per Viet Securities said. Even rubber companies es were forecast at 250 million pacity expansion, construc- er distribution and improved cent and 29.8 per cent over Other rubber companies which had advantages for de- dong per hectare, up four per tion of a mega plant on 10-acre generation efficiency through 2019, respectively. The profit also set cautious targets. veloping industrial property – cent against last year. [4.05ha] plot of land will start the Electricite du Laos’ new mainly came from the VNR’s Tay Ninh Rubber JSC (TRC) a sector considered to be prof- The global production shift soon and is expected to be 500kV transmission line from divestment of 11.8 per cent of set a profit target for 2021 itable – set modest targets. was providing opportunities ready by next year,” it added. Ban Hut substation to the stakes at Saigon VRG Invest- nearly 50 per cent lower than Phuoc Hoa Rubber set rev- for rubber companies which For the packaging division, Cambodian border despite ment Corp. last year. TRC targeted to earn enue at 1.921 trillion dong, a converted their land into in- PublicInvest Research said the low water level. According to Ban Viet Se- revenue of 301 billion dong drop of 15 per cent, and after- dustrial zones. Mega First’s capital expendi- The water level at the Pakse curities Co, VRG earned net and pre-tax profit of 57 billion tax profit of 715 billion dong, This year would see a strong ture is around 120-150 mil- substation fell drastically below profit worth 1.1 trillion dong dong, 29.6 per cent and 48.8 a drop of 35 per cent, against divide in business results lion ringgit ($29-36 million) one metre since February due from the divestment, which per cent lower than last year, 2020. This was the lowest prof- among rubber companies, for the next two years. to dry weather conditions. THE helped the company to reach which were said to be very it target of Phuoc Hoa Rubber FPT Securities said. VIET NAM However, the research house STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK such high profit. cautious targets after the com- since 2019 when the company NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Posco to make Firm unveils 5min EV battery charge 10,000 tonnes of fuel-cell ROM flat battery to speed up the process. full charge in just five Myersdorf said: “We are separators minutes – an Israeli working on taking this solution start-up has devel- to the market in parallel, by OUTH KOREA’S Posco opedF technology it says could designing the manufacturing International aims to eliminate the “range anxiety” facilities that would be able to Sincrease the production of associated with electric cars. mass produce this battery.” fuel cell separators for electric Ultra-fast recharge special- The Nobel jury praised the vehicles (EV) to 10,000 tonnes ists StoreDot have developed lithium-ion battery for be- by 2027, the company said on a first-generation lithium-ion ing able to “store significant March 8. battery that can rival the fill- amounts of energy from solar The firm, through its wholly- ing time of a standard car at and wind power, making pos- owned subsidiary Posco SPS the pump. sible a fossil fuel-free society”. (Steel Processing & Service), StoreDot founder Doron As public opinion shifts to- currently produces 1,400 tonnes Myersdorf said: “We are wards prioritising the climate of Poss470FC, the stainless changing the entire experi- change crisis, manufacturers separator essential in utilising ence of the driver, the prob- are gearing production to- hydrogen as an energy source lem of ‘range anxiety’ … that wards less polluting vehicles. for fuel cell EVs (FCEV). The you might get stuck on the But the road is long. current volume covers around highway without energy.” On the ground, charging 35,000 FCEVs. The innovation could elimi- stations would have to be Poss470FC boasts a thinness nate the hours required to re- adapted for the new gen- of 0.1 millimetres, and it is charge an electric car, he said. eration batteries, costing produced in an “environmental- Hundreds of prototypes are between $1,500 and $10,000 ly-friendly” way in the plating being tested by manufacturers. depending on capacity. process, the company stressed. His company, based in Her- Electric cars are also still ex- The product is not just for zliya, near Tel Aviv, is backed pensive, and in 2019 they rep- cars, the company continued. It by four key investors – Ger- resented only 2.6 per cent of can be used for fuel cell-powe- man automobile manufac- global sales, according to the red drones, robots and UAMs, turer Daimler AG, the UK’s A chemist works at StoreDot’s headquarters in the Israeli coastal city of Herziliya. AFP International Energy Agency. it said. British Petroleum (BP) and For Myersdorf, the sooner the The move comes as the parent the electronic giants Sam- In 2019, the Nobel Chem- original design that won the extreme fast charging capa- world switches to electric ve- POSCO Group, rooted in the iron sung Electronics Co Ltd and istry Prize was awarded to Nobel, so he worked on what bility,” he said. hicles the better, pointing to the and steel industry, accelerates TDK Corp. John Goodenough of the US, was “considered impossible” Batteries are assembled in “huge impact on the planet”. its foray into future mobility, Myersdorf, who set up the Britain’s Stanley Whittingham – a lithium-ion battery good a laboratory equipped with But recycling lithium-ion launching a steel auto parts company in 2012, has tested the and Japan’s Akira Yoshino for to go in minutes. large glass boxes, sealed to batteries remains a problem, brand Autopos. battery on phones, drones and the invention of lithium-ion He said: “We wanted to keep oxygen out. with Esperance noting that Citing a report from McKinsey scooters, before tackling the big batteries. demonstrate that you can StoreDot chemists clad in each has a lifespan of between & Company, Posco stressed the prize of electric vehicles. On awarding the prize, the take a lithium-ion battery, goggles and white coats build 3,000 and 3,500 charges. importance of its auto parts. Ac- But Eric Esperance, an ana- Royal Swedish Academy of replace some of its materi- 100 batteries a week, sent to “We must set up a recycling cording to the report, the value lyst at Roland Berger GmbH Sciences said: “This light- als and then charge it in five companies for possible use in system, as there is for lead-acid of the global hydrogen economy consulting firm, cautioned weight, rechargeable and minutes.” their products. batteries,” he said. “Today, this is anticipated to reach 2.940 that while ultra-fast charging powerful battery is now used The engineer switched the The team is already work- network is just being set up.” quadrillion won ($2.6 trillion) in would be a “revolution”, many in everything from mobile original graphite in the battery’s ing on a second generation of Both the extraction and recy- 2050 and the number of FCEV stages remain. phones to laptops and elec- negative anode with silicon. batteries to cut costs. cling of lithium pose ecologi- passenger cars will reach 400 “We are still far off from the tric vehicles.” “We are taking that amazing While the design cycle of cal, political and economic million, and 20 million for trucks industrial automotive mar- Myersdorf said charging innovation of the lithium-ion a vehicle is “typically four to challenges for technology to and buses. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA ket,” he said. “speed was not part” of the battery and upgrading it to five years”, they are looking to overcome. AFP NEWS NETWORK Thai-listed firms tighten dividend VN’s Ho Chi Minh City mulls ways to woo global investors, purse strings, as Covid bites profits targets $5.4B FDI for this year DIVIDENDS paid by companies list- in 2019; Krungthai Bank (KTB): 0.75 compared to two baht in 2019; PTT HO CHI Minh City (HCMC) has set a industrial parks in the past five years, ed on Thailand’s SET50 Index (exclud- baht per share compared to 0.72 baht Exploration and Production (PTTEP): foreign direct investment (FDI) target of and so fails to attract global inves- ing OR, SCGP and BAM) in 2020 fell in 2019; and TOA Paint (Thailand) 4.25 baht per share compared to six $5.4 billion this year and will focus on tors,” Phong said. 35.15 per cent compared to 2019. (TOA): 0.53 baht per share compared baht in 2019; PTT Global Chemical improving infrastructure and streamlin- He said the department should have A total of 236.94 billion baht ($7.7 to 0.50 baht in 2019. (PTTGC): one baht per share com- ing administrative procedures to achieve specific solutions to shift the city’s econ- billion) was paid out to shareholders Listed companies that paid the pared to two baht in 2019; and Intouch it, a city investment official said. omy towards high technology and away for 2020, down 128.47 billion baht from same dividend as in 2019 – Bangkok Holdings (INTUCH): 2.62 baht per Department of Planning and Invest- from labour-intensive industries. 365.41 billion baht in 2019, due to Dusit Medical Services (BDMS): 0.55 share compared to 2.50 baht in 2019. ment director Le Thi Huynh Mai said the Many investors have complained Covid-19’s impact on the economy. baht per share; Bumrungrad Hospital Manpong Senanarong, Stock Vietnamese city also has other targets that traffic infrastructure and admin- Listed companies that paid higher (BH): 3.20 baht per share; Energy Exchange of Thailand (SET) senior such as incorporating more than 40,000 istrative procedures have not dividends were – B Grimm Power Absolute (EA): 0.30 baht per share; executive vice-president and head of new businesses and rising in the provin- improved much over the years. (BGRIM): 0.45 baht per share com- and Electricity Generating (Egco): the issuer and listing division, said cial competitiveness index (PCI). To resolve the issues, the city is pared to 0.37 baht in 2019; Total 6.50 baht per share. listed companies’ profit last year had Officials and public employees will speeding up work on a range of infra- Access Communication (DTAC): 2.12 Listed companies that paid lower dropped almost 50 per cent due to handle documents electronically, structure projects such as the metro baht per share compared to 1.61 baht dividends – PTT: one baht per share Covid-19. and exchanges between various line No 1 and Thu Thiem Bridge No 2. “However, some businesses that administrative agencies would also It is focusing on streamlining pro- gained positive sentiment from the be electronically handled, she said. cedures for licensing, utilising infor- Covid-19 outbreak were able to pay People’s Committee chairman Nguy- mation technology to reduce the time high dividends,” he said, adding that en Thanh Phong said: “Improving the it takes for the procedures and he expected listed companies to pay investment climate is an imperative.” expanding online public services. high dividends this year in line with Saying “administrative reform” is too According to the HCMC Statistics economic recovery and the progress “general” a description, he said, “it must Office, there were only three FDI projects of Covid-19 vaccination. be more specific, such as how long it will with a total registered capital of $115 mil- Maybank Kim Eng Securities research take to respond to enterprises”. lion in the first two months of this year. department strategist Wijit Arayapisit He instructed the department to Last year it had attracted only $4.36 said SET50-listed companies’ dividend seek ways to attract foreign invest- billion, half the 2019 figure. yield dropped to two per cent com- ment into industrial parks and export Singapore remained the largest pared to three per cent before Covid- processing zones. investor with more than $1.1 billion, 19, citing Bloomberg data. He said priority should be given to followed by South Korea, Japan, the He added that some listed compa- hi-tech investors already present in British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, nies had issued stocks in dividends the city, especially those with indus- the Netherlands and the US. instead of cash in a bid to deal with try 4.0 technologies and supporting According to the department, a total uncertainties. industries with high added-value. of 42,000 businesses were incorporated “Meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand The government has allowed the last year, down 5.2 per cent over 2019. has instructed commercial banks to city to convert 30,000ha of agricul- Some 13,800 businesses suspended pay dividends not more than what was tural land for use for other economic operations, a 40 per cent increase, while paid in 2019 and not exceeding 50 per activities, but only less than 1,000ha nearly 6,000 completed dissolution pro- A total of 236.94 billion baht ($7.7 billion) was paid out to shareholders for 2020, down cent of their 2020 net profit,” Wijit said. would be used for industry, he said. cedures, according to the department. 128.47 billion baht from 365.41 billion baht in 2019. THE NATION THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK “The city has not built any new VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World US to join UN group on US offers temporary refuge ending gender violence The US is planning to join an Women and Girls, which was informal UN group on curbing set up last year and is presided to ‘over 300,000’ Venezuelans violence against women and over by the EU. girls, Washington’s envoy to Under Biden’s predecessor he US will allow po- the world body announced on Donald Trump, the US was at tentially tens of thou- Monday 8 on International odds with its traditional allies sands of Venezuelans Women’s Day. on women’s issues. At one to seek refuge, in a President Joe Biden’s UN point, Washington threatened significantT policy shift from envoy Linda Thomas-Green- to veto a draft proposed by Ger- the former Trump era, officials field said: “We all believe and many on reproductive rights in said on March 8. understand that when women conflict zones. Temporary Protected Status do better, countries do better Harris will deliver the US (TPS) is being offered to peo- – communities, families. Not speech on March 16 at the 65th ple who fled political repres- just the women, everyone.” Commission on the Status of sion and economic chaos in The veteran diplomat said Women, Thomas-Greenfield the once wealthy South Amer- the administration of Biden announced – a move that high- ican country. and Vice-President Kamala lights the importance given by A senior official in President Harris – and the country as a the Biden administration to the Joe Biden’s administration, whole – “care deeply about issue of women’s rights. who asked not to be named, gender equality and the The event usually brings told reporters that “over empowerment of women and thousands of women to the UN 300,000 individuals are esti- girls around the world”. headquarters in New York every mated to be eligible”. Thomas-Greenfield was year, but this year, as in 2020, The Venezuelans being con- speaking at an informal UN the meeting will be held virtu- sidered are all already in the Security Council meeting ded- ally due to the coronavirus US but will now be able to icated to the participation of pandemic. escape possible deportation, women in peace processes, “The United States is back at with stays granted through US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas delivers remarks while visiting a FEMA community organised to mark Internation- the UN and we are resolute in September next year. vaccination centre on March 2 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. GETTY IMAGES/AFP al Women’s Day. our support for the women, Secretary of Homeland Se- On taking office in January, is not safe for Venezuelans to will be deported, that they will The US will join the UN peace and security agenda,” curity Alejandro Mayorkas Biden immediately set about return”, the senior administra- be told no, because they have Group of Friends for the Elimi- the US ambassador to the UN said: “The living conditions in reversing what he says were tion official said. 18 months to be able to re- nation of Violence Against said. AFP Venezuela reveal a country in Trump’s inhumane border TPS allows people fleeing solve it,” Gonzalez, who works turmoil, unable to protect its policies. unrest or natural disaster to at a Venezuelan restaurant in own citizens. remain and work for a limited downtown Miami, said. “It is in times of extraordi- ‘Not safe’ in Venezuela time. Those applying will undergo nary and temporary circum- The Democrat has come Andres Gonzalez, who ar- background checks and get stances like these that the under pressure from Repub- rived in Miami from Venezu- 180 days to put in their ap- United States steps forward licans for what they say is a ela four years ago, was relieved plications. They must provide to support eligible Venezu- lax attitude that will lead to when he heard about the TPS proof they were here on or elan nationals already present uncontrollable numbers of il- decision. before March 8 and pay a $50 here, while their home coun- legal immigrants. Gonzalez, 24, applied for application fee and $85 bio- try seeks to right itself out of But the administration is asylum, but is not sure it will be metrics fee. the current crises.” pushing back, underlining granted and is still waiting for A further $410 fee is required Former US President Don- that the doors are not be- his interview appointment. for work permits. ald Trump – despite backing a ing opened to new arrivals – “The TPS is great because In Caracas, opposition push to topple far-left Venezu- merely for those already here, all the people like me who are leader Juan Guaido said that elan leader Nicolas Maduro who will now be eligible for seeking asylum or who are ar- “Venezuelans who have been – denied Venezuelans the the 18-month stay. riving and have not applied for forced to flee to the United protected status as part of his This is “due to the extraor- asylum, or anything like that, States for fear of losing their hardline crackdown on immi- dinary temporary conditions do not have to worry that they lives can now sleep more gration and refugee rules. in Venezuela” and because “it will be thrown out, that they peacefully”. AFP US President Joe Biden’s UN envoy Linda Thomas-Greenfield. AFP Senegal opposition leader urges ‘much larger’ protests

Senegal’s main opposition leader nation for protesters to avoid con- bility in a volatile region, Senegal has In a nationwide address on March days of massive demonstrations. called on March 8 for “much larger” frontation. been rocked by its worst unrest in 8 evening, Sall appealed to protesters The unrest in Senegal began on protests, but urged non-violence Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko years, which began after Sonko was to “silence our bitterness and avoid March 3 after police arrested Sonko after days of deadly clashes in the was freed from detention on March arrested last week. the logic of confrontation which on charges of public disorder follow- West African state sparked by his 8, but also charged with rape, while At least five people have been killed leads to the worst”. ing scuffles with his supporters. recent arrest. protesters hurled rocks at riot police in clashes between security forces The courts should be left to do their The 46-year-old opposition leader President Macky Sall also called for in the capital Dakar. and opposition supporters, who job “in all independence”, he added, had been making his way to court for calm, appealing in an address to the Usually considered a beacon of sta- allege that the rape charge is designed also announcing an easing of the cur- the rape case, accompanied by sup- to smear Sonko. fews in place in two regions, includ- porters. Speaking in Dakar after his release, ing Dakar. But the move sparked a violent the opposition leader said “the revo- backlash, with protesters looting lution has already started and nobody Thousands protest in Dakar shops and throwing stones at police, can stop it”. Thousands of Sonko’s supporters highlighting longstanding grievances He also urged Senegalese people to gathered in a central square in Dakar over living standards and inequality. keep demonstrating, adding that pro- earlier on March 8 after he was The clashes had abated by March 6 tests should be “much larger”, but charged, throwing stones at police but calls from the opposition to take also peaceful. and torching a car, before security to the streets fed concerns the vio- Considered a challenger to the forces dispersed them with tear gas. lence could escalate. incumbent president, Sonko is a gov- “We cannot allow Macky Sall to Schools in the capital have been ernment critic popular with young flout democracy and imprison his ordered closed for a week. Senegalese. He too denounces the opponents,” said Rama Diop, a Senegalese’s opposition leader charge against him as politically 30-year-old protester. Ousmane Sonko, charged with rape, motivated. On March 8, military vehicles gestures as he talks to media at his As hundreds of supporters chanted topped with machine guns were sta- party’s headquarters in Dakar on “President! President!” Sonko said tioned in areas of Senegal’s seaside March 8, 2021 after being freed from Sall did not have the legitimate right capital where there had recently been detention. Senegal’s main opposition to lead the country. clashes. leader called for “much larger” pro- But he opposed any move to remove The show of force came after an tests, but urged non-violence after him from office by force, looking opposition collective known as the days of deadly clashes in the West Senegalese opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, charged with rape, speaks to the media at instead towards the 2024 presidential Movement for Defence of Democ- African state sparked by his recent his party’s headquarters in Dakar on Monday after being freed from detention. AFP election. racy over the weekend called for three arrest. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Singapore Airlines to Barricaded’ Myanmar protesters pilot digital coronavirus must be safely released, UN warns travel pass N chief Antonio ingapore Airlines will Guterres on March begin trialling a corona- 8 called for the safe Svirus digital travel pass release of hundreds developed by aviation’s industry ofU Myanmar protesters “bar- body next week, the carrier said ricaded” inside apartment on March 8, the first airline to pilot complexes in Yangon, where the scheme as the pandemic-hit security forces are violently sector seeks to recover. cracking down on anti-junta The app, developed by the Inter- demonstrations, his spokes- national Air Transport Association man said. (IATA), will store information on The secretary-general “calls passengers’ health, including for maximum restraint and whether they have had virus tests urges for the safe release of all or vaccines, to streamline travel without violence or arrests”, as borders reopen. spokesman Stephane Dujar- Singapore’s flag carrier said ric said. it would offer travellers heading “Many of those trapped are from the city-state to London women who were peacefully between March 15 and 28 the marching in commemora- chance to participate in the pilot tion of International Women’s if they have a phone operating on Day,” he said. the iOS system. According to the UN rights “Our partnership with Sin- office, “police began shooting gapore Airlines for the first full and making arrests” in Yangon deployment of the IATA Travel around 10:00pm on March 8, Pass will help get the world although it was unclear if they flying again,” said Nick Careen were arresting trapped pro- from the industry body. testers or newly arrived dem- The virus has plunged the onstrators. industry into its worst-ever crisis, Myanmar has been in tur- costing airlines an estimated $510 moil since a February 1 coup billion in lost sales last year. ousted civilian leader Aung Participants in the pilot San Suu Kyi and triggered Protesters hold homemade shields during a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon on Monday. AFP scheme will need to take pre- mass protests against the new departure Covid-19 tests, and military junta. strate peacefully and express ground following the coup. Security Council “to help pro- ensure that more weapons do will be able to view their results The police and military have their hopes and desires for the “As far as I know we’ve not tect the people of Myanmar not get into areas already suf- and whether they are confirmed responded with an increasing- future of their country,” Dujar- had any contact” with the in- from further human rights fering military offensives”. to fly on the app. ly brutal crackdown on dem- ric said. dividual, Dujarric said. “But violations”. Dujarric said UN officials, They will need to show their onstrators, with more than 50 He also reported that the we’ll continue calling people He also asked for “robust, including its special envoy on confirmed status in the app to people killed and nearly 1,800 secretary-general had re- who may have contact with targeted sanctions – not only Myanmar Christine Schraner check-in staff before their flight. arrested. ceived a letter from a “special him.” on military leaders but on mil- Burgener, “have been in con- Several other airlines, including “We call on all to respect the envoy” to the UN appointed The envoy, who goes only by itary enterprises and assets”. tact with elected parliamen- Air New Zealand and Emirates, rights of freedom of assembly by a committee represent- the name Dr Sasa, asked Gu- The missive, dated March tarians as part of ongoing have signed up to trial the app. AFP and expression of the people ing Myanmar’s parliament, terres in the letter, which was 4, called for “a total arms em- contacts with key stakehold- of Myanmar as they demon- which was forced under- obtained by AFP, to call on the bargo against the military, to ers”. AFP First-instance trial opens Thai virologist breaks down for Phu Tho ethanol plant why the private sector can’t case in northern Vietnam procure Covid-19 vaccines The People’s Court of Hanoi on Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovo- tion drive on March 1 after ing businesspeople, airline staff, March 8 opened the first-in- rawan has stepped in to explain receiving its first shipments of diplomats and members of stance trial into alleged viola- why private companies are not Sinovac and AstraZeneca international organisations. tions of regulations on invest- yet allowed to import Covid-19 shots. Thailand has ordered 63 mil- ment in construction works, vaccine to Thailand. The first phase of vaccination lion doses of vaccine, enough causing “serious consequenc- On March 8, the Chulalong- covers medics and people with to inoculate 31.5 million peo- es” at the Phu Tho ethanol korn University professor underlying disease, as well as ple in 2021 or roughly 45 per plant in the northern province responded via Facebook to residents of Bangkok and high- cent of its 66 million people. of the same name. people inquiring why private risk provinces – Samut Sakhon, The Tourism Authority of There are 12 defendants in the companies and hospitals Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand expects the country case, including former Politburo could not procure their own Tak, Pathum Thani, Samut to reopen to foreign tourists in member and Vietnam National vaccine. Prakan, Samut Songkhram and the third quarter of this year as Oil and Gas Group (PetroViet- He explained that the Thai Ratchaburi. vaccination rolls out across the nam) chairman Dinh La Thang; and other governments around The second phase covers world. THE NATION (THAILAND)/ASIA former chairman and director- the world had registered Covid- international travellers includ- NEWS NETWORK general of PetroVietnam Con- 19 vaccines for emergency use. struction JSC (PVC) Trinh Xuan This meant responsibility for Thanh; and several former exec- Vietnamese police officers escort defendant Dinh La Thang to the trial any side effects from inocula- utives of PetroVietnam, PVC and on Monday. VIETNAM NEWS AGENCY tion lay with the government, the PetroVietnam PetroChemi- struction works, causing seri- ta-T joint contractors, who not the vaccine producers. cals and Biofuel JSC (PVB). ous consequences”. had no previous experience in Therefore, Covid-19 vaccine Thanh has been charged with Thirty lawyers will represent carrying out ethanol projects, can only be imported under the “violating regulations on 12 defendants during the were assigned to be in charge government’s contract. investment in construction 10-day trial. Thang has three of the project. Currently, vaccine producers works, causing serious conse- lawyers, Thanh has four, while As a result, the project was will not negotiate with private quences” under Article 224, Vu Thanh Ha has the largest continuously behind schedule purchasers who have no gov- Clause 3 of the Penal Code number of lawyers defending and stopped in March 2013 ernment authorisation. 2015, and “abusing position him at six. with no construction items However, Dr Yong said private and power while performing According to the indictment, completed. companies will be permitted to duties” under Article 356, Thang signed a resolution to The wrongdoings of the export shots once Covid-19 vac- Clause 3. approve the investment in the defendants were said to cause cines are fully registered, with Thang, meanwhile, has been Phu Tho ethanol project in a loss of more than 543 billion responsibility for any side effects accused of “violating regula- October 2007. With Thanh’s dong ($23.49 million). VIET NAM passed to the producers. tions on investment in con- support, PVC/Alfa Laval/Del- NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Thailand launched vaccina- Thai virologist Dr Yong Poovorawan. THENATION/THAILAND/ASIA NEWSNETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Listening to public concerns is key to www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng successful immunisation campaign Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Opinion Deputy Chief of Staff Phak Seangly Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz Business Editor and Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline May Kunmakara Deputy Business Editor OPE is rising in Malaysia Sangeetha Amarthalingam and around the world as Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Covid-19 vaccinations get Pan Simala underway. Our new survey Senior Reporters ofH 5,916 Malaysians also reveals that Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng attitudes toward the virus are chang- Reporters ing for the better, reflecting more Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, understanding about vaccines and the severity of the disease. Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Mom Kunthear, Hong Raksmey, Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, We have seen an encouraging trend Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, towards more people wanting to get vaccinated against Covid-19. A World Lay Samean, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha Economic Forum-Ipsos study last Photographers August indicated that two out of Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey three people in Malaysia were uncer- Web Editor tain about being immunised. A Leang Phannara Malaysian government survey pub- Digital Team lished in late December shows Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy encouraging progress among the SIEM REAP BUREAU population regarding their percep- Offi ce Manager tion of immunisation, with two- Sophearith Blondeel thirds of people in Malaysia saying PRODUCTION & PRINTING yes to Covid-19 vaccines. Head of Desktop Publishing Our latest survey also shows Nhim Sokphyrak progress in the right direction, with Desktop Publishing nearly three out of five respondents Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath willing to get the vaccine and only a Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna small fraction (six per cent) of people in Malaysia saying they would not. Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin receiving the first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at a government People primarily want to know if the clinic in Putrajaya. MALAYSIA DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION/afp vaccines are safe, how to access the HEAD OFFICE immunisation services and if they are in helping to stop the spread of the health advice is vital. We may be liv- mated how essential their role is in Post Media Co., Ltd. halal. Addressing these concerns and disease. It means more people are ing in an instant digital and social providing people with lifesaving first The Elements Condominium Level 7, other questions to build trust and inclined to keep wearing masks, media era, but more than one in five aid, early diagnosis and treatment. Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, acceptance is of the utmost impor- maintain physical distance and take people said they still prefer to get Having them as a friendly, listening Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom tance. Our best chance of preventing other precautions, including receiving their information from real people, ear and someone who can provide Penh, Cambodia severe disease and deaths from Covid- the vaccine, to keep themselves, their face-to-face. This finding reinforces critical, life-saving information can Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 19 in Malaysia lies in immunising families, friends and colleagues safe. the important role of Red Crescent make a world of difference. Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 approximately 80 per cent of the pop- Results also show that people still volunteers, our broad civil society Right now, both WHO and Malay- Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 ulation in the next 12 months. wish to know more about Covid-19 and health workers in helping to sian Red Crescent are supporting the SIEM REAP Evidence in Malaysia and abroad symptoms and the risk of catching reassure people who are concerned government in preparation for the No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune tells us that having enough vaccines is national vaccine rollout. Vaccinations Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 only part of the solution to contain provide hope but they are not a COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT and slow the spread of a disease. A It is our responsibility to stand-alone solution. Even once vac- Chief Operating Offi cer successful Covid-19 vaccination cam- cinated, we still need to practice all James Ong Soon Teck paign also depends on people being provide clarity and answers preventive public health and social Advertising Department comfortable and confident to take the measures to keep ourselves protected Chap Narith, 017 996 241 vaccines when they are offered. and continue to build trust in for the foreseeable future. The perils Hun Channet, 017 578 768 We must make sure everyone can of Covid-19 will only be overcome Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 easily share their concerns and feel immunisation when everyone is safe. Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 listened to. Our survey helps us to It is completely understandable Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 understand what people know, what the virus and are looking for compre- about the vaccine or seeking more that in this time of great uncertainty, Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 information they need and how they hensive and reliable information information. Two-way conversation the public has questions and con- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION would like to receive it. about the vaccines and treatments is crucial to building accurate under- cerns about the virus and the vac- Acting Distribution Manager We have seen a dramatic and that are currently being developed. standing while allaying fears. cines, and it is our responsibility to Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 important shift in knowledge and atti- Simple, clear, timely and empathic It’s valuable to know that the most provide clarity and answers and con- Circulation Supervisor tudes about Covid-19 among the peo- communication that acknowledges trusted sources of information in the tinue to build trust in immunisation Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 ple in Malaysia. Almost all (99 per what we do and do not know can country are the Malaysian govern- as we move forward. THE JAKARTA POST/ Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 cent) Malaysians believe that the virus help boost people’s trust in health ment, the World Health Organisation ASIA NEWS NETWORK ADMINISTRATION is “very dangerous” or “dangerous” authorities, which in turn can posi- (WHO) and the Malaysian Red Cres- Admin & HR Manager whereas in mid-2020 nearly four out tively influence their willingness to cent. Frontline workers and volun- Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz is national Pich Socheat of five people (78 per cent) thought be vaccinated. teers are also among the most trusted chairperson of Malaysian Red Crescent. Lo Ying-Ru Jacqueline is head of mission and Assistants Admin & HR Manager the virus was “not too dangerous”. Understanding who the trusted sources and they deserve our endless WHO representative to Malaysia, Brunei Nhel Soaphea This shift in attitudes plays a big role sources are in providing public gratitude. It must not be underesti- Darussalam and Singapore. Financial Director Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, 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 march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Boyfriend of young Myanmar ‘protest martyr’ vows resistance, inks his love and heartache

ein Yar Zar gri- junta, with multiple countries maced as a tattoo imposing targeted sanctions artist etched onto on the generals. his chest the fea- Today, more than 50 people turesH of his first love, a young have died during protests as protester whose death has be- the security forces enforce come a symbol of resistance an increasingly brutal crack- against Myanmar’s junta. down on demonstrators. Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing “There was nobody like was shot in the head during a her,” said Hein Yar Zar. demonstration in the capital He showed off an inking Naypyidaw, becoming one of he had done years ago on his the coup’s first fatalities on arm – “Together forever” – a February 19 after 10 days in poignant reminder of their hospital. youthful optimism. Her image has since become On February 9, the couple synonymous with the bloody were both on the front lines of fight to wrest power from the a massive Naypyidaw demon- military, which toppled Myan- stration, although separated mar’s civilian leader Aung by the crowd of protesters. San Suu Kyi and knocked the “I sent her a message, ‘Please country off the path for de- call me back’, because I had no mocracy last month. credit on my phone, but she For 21-year-old Hein Yar never did,” said Hein Yar Zar, Zar, the abrupt end to his girl- who heard the news of her friend’s young life has filled shooting from her sister. him with resolve to keep pro- “I stayed beside her at the testing, even as he grieves. hospital and I prayed every “We had so many plans day that she would get better.” Hein Yar Zar, the boyfriend of deceased Myanmar protester Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who died after being shot during a rally against the military for this year. She died when The military initially said it coup, has her portrait tattooed on his chest in Naypyidaw on February 24. afp her birthday was so near,” he was investigating her death, told AFP. but state media later reported “I got a tattoo of her por- that an autopsy of her body trait as I’m missing her – it’s a showed the bullet was not memory for us.” fired by police officers. Two days after she was shot, Since her death, Hein Yar Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing Zar’s life has been separated turned 20 while unconscious in into moments filled with a hospital bed – an image shared grief, anger and resolve. by anti-coup demonstrators as Showing an earlier tattoo they rallied on the streets. – “17.11.2015”, which com- Days later, a 15m-long ban- memorates their first date ner illustrating the moment five years ago – he vowed to she was hit was hung off a never forget her. bridge in commercial hub “She gave her life for this rev- Yangon, with some protesters olution – as her boyfriend, I will describing her as a “martyr”. keep doing it for her,” he said. Her death brought scathing “I will keep fighting for this For 21-year-old Hein Yar Zar, the abrupt end to his girlfriend’s young life A photo of Myanmar protester Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing is displayed at global condemnation of the revolution to win.” afp has filled him with resolve to keep protesting, even as he grieves. afp her home during a memorial service in Naypyidaw on February 25. afp Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai signs Apple TV deal

PAKISTANI activist Malala Yousafzai, she wrote about everyday life and who won the Nobel Peace Prize as a hopes for a better future, but her teenager after surviving a Taliban fame incensed the Taliban, whose assassination attempt, has signed a leadership ordered her murder. deal with Apple TV+ that will see her In October 2012, a Taliban assassin produce dramas and documentaries shot the then-15-year-old as she rode that focus on women and children. home on a bus from school. The bul- The multi-year partnership would let struck near her left eye, went “draw on her ability to inspire people through her neck and lodged in her around the world”, the company said shoulder. in a statement, adding that content She recovered after months of would also include animation and treatment at home and abroad children’s series. before co-writing a best-selling mem- “I’m grateful for the opportunity to oir titled I am Malala, which drew support women, young people, writ- even more international attention. ers, and artists in reflecting the world Yousafzai was awarded the Nobel as they see it,” the 23-year-old was Peace Prize as a 17-year-old in 2014, quoted as saying. sharing the award with Kailash Sat- Yousafzai earned the wrath of the yarthi, a children’s rights activist from Taliban as a 10-year-old in rural north- India. west Pakistan when she began cam- She graduated from Britain’s Oxford paigning for education rights for girls. University last year and has since cre- At the time, the Pakistani Taliban had ated a digital publication for girls and gained a significant foothold in the women, and formed her own TV pro- Swat Valley, imposing a fundamentalist duction company. version of Islam on areas they control- “I believe in the power of stories to led – banning education for girls and bring families together, forge friend- employment for women. ships, build movements, and inspire Malala Yousafzai attends an event about the importance of education and women empowerment in Sao Paulo, Brazil on July 9, 2018. Yousafzai drew international atten- children to dream,” she was quoted as She has signed a deal with Apple TV+ that will see her produce dramas and documentaries that focus on women and children. afp tion with a series of blogs and articles saying in Monday’s statement. afp THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Escaping from Covid in South Africa’s pricey, luxurious Blue Train

aiters in grey a 1,600km trip through the “Our trip to the US was can- waistcoats bear- Karoo desert, slicing up the celled in 2020,” said Bennie ing dainty plat- middle of the country to the Christoff, a 54-year-old finan- ters of canapes capital Pretoria. cial advisor, flanked by his wife. Wcircle the private lounge at Arid ochre landscapes grad- “We are locked in and the Cape Town’s main train sta- ually morph into rolling hills Blue Train is one of the things tion and the tinkle of cham- and green pastures sporadical- I wanted to do. My grandpar- pagne glasses fills the air. ly broken up by mining towns ents told us about it.” Timeless ease fills the room and informal settlements. The decades-old train is run as passengers wait to embark The Blue Train is a perfect es- by South African state logis- on the fabled Blue Train for cape from the cares of the world. tics firm Transnet, which has a luxurious two-night trek Ironically, most South Af- struggled to keep rail traffic across South Africa. ricans could never have smooth since the economic But even in this cosseted dreamed of affording its luxu- setbacks of the pandemic fu- world, 2021 intrudes, showing ry before Covid appeared. elled a surge in cable theft. Blue Train passengers enjoy drinks in the observation car as the train slowly makes its way through the that nothing can escape the grip But coronavirus travel restric- outskirts of Cape Town on February 25. afp of the coronavirus pandemic. tions have stemmed the flow of ‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ Passengers are discreetly wealthy international tourists A discounted ticket still politely reminded men to don a cheesecake or a lemon me- “That’s what he tells every- ushered off in small groups to that long dominated the train’s comes at a steep minimum coat or waistcoat and “women ringue tart – was followed by one,” joked a passenger over- a fast-track coronavirus test- clientele, mainly from Austra- price of 23,000 rand ($1,544) to be as elegant as possible”. a shot of grappa or a sweet hearing the conversation. ing centre nearby. lia, Britain and Japan. – about four times the aver- Flip-flops and shorts gave South African white from A negative result, sent by Service resumed in Novem- age monthly minimum wage way to dark suits and dresses Klein Constantia. Invisible fairies text, is followed by an elegant ber with heavily discounted in one of the world’s most un- before passengers made their “Nelson Mandela’s favourite,” Some satisfied diners re- appetiser lunch – the final step prices. Today nearly all its pas- equal countries. way to the restaurant car, fill- said restaurant manager Syd- treated to their freshly made before “All aboard!” signals the sengers are from South Africa. “Returning guests are rare,” ing the narrow passageway ney Masenyani, ramrod straight cabin beds. Others headed to start of the adventure. “I grew up knowing there barman Simon Moteka said. with the scent of perfume. and impeccably dressed. the observation car with its In the background stands was a Blue Train, it was un- “It’s often a once-in-a-lifetime The sun was setting as din- The 61-year-old started his outsize windows, the lounge the dashing Blue Train, ready affordable,” said Cape Town- experience for them.” ers were shown to their tables, career as a senior waiter on a or the club for a nightcap. to accommodate excited pas- based doctor Mashiko Set- Sliding drinks over the coun- casting a golden glow over the smaller train in 1981. Once on board, everything sengers in 19 plush wagons shedi, accompanied by her ter, the 43-year-old expertly sheep-dotted Karoo whizzing In 1993, he joined an all-white from the first morning coffee lined with wooden panels 67-year-old mother. “Thanks navigated conversation, pep- past the windows. team of staffers, two years after to a midnight cigar is includ- and polished brass. to Covid it became possible.” pering discreet small talk with Each dish on the three to apartheid formally ended. ed in the ticket price. Forty-eight hours of pam- Unlike Setshedi, most of the the occasional well-placed joke. five-course menu is paired His first months were tough. Cash is banished – passen- pering begins as the train passengers were white cou- As dinner time neared, a with a different glass of wine. Tall and shy, Masenyani was gers are asked to tuck their rolls out of the station on ples in their 50s and 60s. loudspeaker announcement Dessert – deconstructed often teased. wallets away and “surrender Four years later, Mandela to the luxury of the show”. himself stepped on board to Time becomes fluid. Be- launch a new, fully revamped tween meals and naps, the day Blue Train, flanked by US mu- is spent reading, playing cards sic producer Quincy Jones and and making new friends. British model Naomi Campbell. Every evening, invisible “It was wonderful,” Mase- fairies tiptoe into the cabins nyani recalled, vividly de- while dinner is served. scribing the red carpet and They bring firm mattresses the nervous bodyguards. down from nooks in the walls “Motorbikes on the road, and stretch fresh-smelling helicopters,” he glowed. “We duvets tightly across. took photos with him.” From fluffy pillows, one can The highlight was serving turn to the window and gaze Mandela his favourite choco- at the moon-lit landscape late fondant “with a passion rolling by under a starry sky. fruit heart” and a sweet South Tucked under the blankets, African dessert wine. a hot shower or bath awaiting “In fact, he was sitting at the in the morning, passengers A Blue Train butler loads passengers’ luggages at the departing hall of Linen, crystals and silverware are seen in the dining car as Blue Train same table as you,” Masenyani rocked by the gentle motion the train station in Cape Town, on February 25. afp approaches the Karoo area. afp gleefully told reporters. drift off to sleep. AFP Instagram-ready: VN influencers teach art of posing

HOW to smile, where to place a hand, rial has amassed a substantial follow- which direction to face: young Viet- ing, attracting around 500 people namese social media users are snap- from a range of professions, includ- ping up a popular influencer’s course ing online merchants and estate on posing for the perfect photo. agents. In communist Vietnam, where 70 “The image I am aiming to create percent of the population is under 35, is one of a successful businesswom- the classes are particularly popular an,” said 29-year-old Nguyen Thi with young women. Thanh Loan, who works at an insur- Instructor Pham Kieu Ly – who has ance company, and also wants to hundreds of thousands of followers boost her photography skills during on Instagram and TikTok – set up the the course. $130 course in Hanoi after women Other participants said they were began asking her how to look their convinced beautiful photos would best in photos, largely for social help them sell products on Facebook, media. which has more than 53 million users The lessons also teach aspiring in Vietnam – over half the population. amateur photographers how to take The platform has become a crucial snaps themselves. marketing tool for local business. Ly said she saw women in the class Nguyen Huong Tra, 29, who runs a who wanted “to learn how to pose homewear shop and sells candles and and take photos to help their work, scented oils online, said: “In the past while others wanted to build confi- I didnt pay much attention to my dence”. images or number of followers on Since the first class in September social media, but then I realised they 2020, Ly’s day-and-a-half-long tuto- are important to my business.” afp Participants taking part in a course teaching them how to pose for photographs on their mobile phones at a studio in Hanoi. afp 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Priyanka, the only female employee at a store selling alcoholic drinks where only women and couples are allowed, poses for a picture in the store at a shopping mall in New Delhi on Saturday. AFP New Delhi’s female-only liquor store helps women buy drinks in good spirits

riya Sharma drove door. The store does let cou- Opened in 2015, the wom- more than 30km to ples in but they are rare. en-only store in eastern New get to an exclusive “That is why we specifically Delhi is believed to be the first boutique in a teeming came to this store so that Pri- and only such shop in India. NewP Delhi residential district ya can decide what she wants “I have been in the business “GET IT GOING” – a women-only liquor store. in an environment where she for a very long time and have Inside a shopping mall, the doesn’t feel uncomfortable.” seen women being uncom- ACROSS 60 Cinematographer’s place, 26 Reached ground store provides a safe environ- The gang-rape and murder fortable at liquor stores,” said 1 Fiery gem sometimes 27 Letter’s number ment for women to buy al- of a young woman on a Delhi Umesh Saxena, the manager 5 Naval-academy freshman 64 Canadian-dollar image 28 Far end of a church cohol in a city where harass- bus in 2012 sparked weeks of of the store. 10 File folder appendages 65 It’s as sure as taxes 29 Place for a pig ment and discrimination is a protests and put the spotlight “I have had customers tell 14 Looking healthy 66 Bodily distress 31 Counting everything daily battle and many women on the treatment of women in me they are glad they have 15 Mead study site 67 “Dukes of Hazzard” spin-off 32 ___ Paulo, Brazil fear going out at night. India. this outlet where they don’t 16 Ruler’s inch, e.g. 68 Spread, as fingers 35 Detriment Buying a bottle of wine or Criminal law was tough- have to worry.” 17 In a gradual, reliable fashion 69 Arctic dog’s burden 36 Holder of notions whisky on a Saturday night ened for offences against The store sees higher sales 20 Battlefield VIP DOWN 37 Philadelphia founder in the Indian capital has al- women and across India, in wine and vodka – particu- 21 Nonwoody vegetation 1 Exclamations of excitement 39 Covered vehicle ways been a fight for position while reserved seats for wom- lar favourites among women. 22 What we have here 2 It’s always on hand? 40 Princess Leia’s last name inside a hot and cramped en on buses and metro trains “This is definitely an enabling 25 Wounds with a tusk or horn 3 Plant used in lotions 41 Land for livestock 26 Make more suitable 4 Salacious store, where customers – have also become a common environment for women to 45 Sets sail 30 Causes of some night frights 5 Behavioral scientist’s major, mostly men – scream orders 46 Jupiter’s Norse counterpart sight in cities. buy – without fear – whatever 33 Carnation site briefly 48 Poker player’s spot at stressed-out staff. But women in New Delhi they want to drink,” said 50- 34 Bluefin, for one 6 Science class feature 49 Cinema name “I have always avoided going are still feeling the prying year-old Mimi Choudhury. 35 Like jazz cats 7 Aboriginal food source 50 Brutish person into an alcohol store,” said Shar- eyes at off-licences. Saxena’s employees also 38 “There’s no deadline” 8 This one and that one 52 Noble realm ma, whose name was changed Anisha Saigal, 29, said a believe the store plays an 42 Crossed letter 9 State of relaxation 54 Lotto info so that her family would not routine walk from a liquor important role in the liquor 43 With the bow, musically 10 Certain engines know where she had been. store to her car or home was business in the city of 20 mil- 44 Air anew 55 A way up 11 Keep ___ to the ground (listen) 57 Urchins “I usually ask someone to an invitation to judge her lion people. 45 Bee’s place? 12 Unwelcome water on a ship 47 Oliver Twist, for one 58 River duck get it for me,” she told AFP “moral code of conduct” in a Staff member Priyanka said 13 Eyelid maladies 48 Monkeyed around (with) 59 Huron neighbor inside the store with a sign on way she had not faced in any she was glad she only has to 18 Wee 51 Bar staple 61 Holbrook or Prince its glass door reading “Exclu- other country. talk to women. 19 Craving 53 Slow musical pieces 62 Sweater letter sively for ladies”. “Even if nothing happens She said: “If I walk across to 23 Student in practical training 56 Labor organizer’s cry 63 So-so center? “Men judge when women physically, the gaze that fol- the store right across the cor- 24 Reporter’s informants buy and drink alcohol. I can’t lows after women purchase ridor and buy anything, men deny it,” said a man who ac- alcohol is unsolicited and will still stare. At least here, I Tuesday’s solution companied Sharma to the disturbing,” she said. know I’m safe.” AFP

Tuesday’s solution

Priyanka (centre) serves customers in the store at a shopping mall in New Delhi on Saturday. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Djokovic top spot streak unmatched America’s Cup sails ovak Djokovic set a new landmark of 311 weeks as world No1 on March 8, one past Covid week longer than Roger NFederer whose tally of a record 20 Luna Rossa skipper Max Si- Grand Slam titles the Serb is now “de- rena insisted the Italian syn- voted” to breaking. dicate was full of confidence Djokovic, 33, won his 18th major at ahead of its America’s Cup the Australian Open in February. showdown with Team New With Federer turning 40 in August, Zealand in Auckland on March the Serb has time on his side. He is a 10, despite being written off by year younger than Rafael Nadal who bookies and pundits. also has 20 majors. Sirena said the Italians had “The two main goals in tennis are been underestimated at ev- probably the number of Grand Slams ery stage of the America’s won and the number of weeks spent Cup build-up, despite post- at No1,” Djokovic told Serbian broad- ing convincing wins over rival caster RTS. challengers American Magic “I am honoured to have achieved and Ineos Team UK. one of them, now I will devote myself The veteran sailor, in his to the second.” seventh America’s Cup cam- Djokovic reclaimed the top rank- paign, was unsurprised Luna ing from Nadal in February 2020 and Rossa was again being la- finished as year-end No1 for the sixth belled the underdog against a time, tying the record set by Pete Sam- powerful Team NZ outfit. pras. “It’s happened a lot . . . a lot of “It really excites me to walk the path people say the Italians, they’re of legends and giants of this sport,” going to go back home crying,” said Djokovic, in a statement released he told reporters March 9. by the ATP whose rankings have been “Now we’re in the final and running since August 23, 1973. there are people saying the “To know that I earned my place Italians will need a miracle to among them by following my child- beat Team New Zealand.” hood dream is a beautiful confirmation Kiwi bookmakers rate Team that when you do things out of love and NZ almost three times more passion, everything is possible.” likely than Luna Rossa to lift the ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic (centre) watches videos of the most important moments of his career projected onto Belgrade’s Auld Mug, with a 7-0 clean sweep city hall with fans gathering to honour him despite coronavirus measures on Monday. AFP said: “Novak’s many achievements in in the best-of-13 series regarded tennis are nothing short of extraor- for the first time in October 2006 and In head-to-heads, he leads Federer 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 12,030 points as the most probable outcome. dinary. Among them this record may top 10 by March 2007. 27-23 and has won all six of their last 2. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,850 Experts have been similarly stand as his single most impressive. He first became world No1 at the meetings at the majors, including 3. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 9,735 dismissive of Luna Rossa’s “Reaching No1 is something many age of 24 on July 4, 2011, the day after 2019’s epic Wimbledon final where he 4. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 9,125 chances, with four-time cup players dream of and very few ever winning Wimbledon for the first time, saved two match points. 5. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 6,660 (+1) winner Murray Jones declar- accomplish, and to have held the top beating Nadal in the final. Djokovic’s record was top news in his 6. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,630 (-1) ing, “I think Team New Zea- spot for longer than anyone is testa- Only a six-month injury absence in native Serbia on March 8, with head- 7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 5,615 land will win easily.” ment to the levels of sustained excel- 2017 saw his ranking plunge, all the lines like “No one was ever like Nole” in 8. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 5,019 As defending champions, lence that Novak has redefined in our way to 22 the following summer. daily newspaper Vecernje novosti. 9. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 3,640 Team New Zealand set the de- sport.” It was just a blip – Djokovic was Videos of the most important mo- 10. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 3,480 sign parameters for the yachts Federer, who returns to action in back at No1 again by November and ments of his career were projected 11. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,910 being used in Auckland, giv- Doha this week after more than a year with the exception of November 2019 onto Belgrade’s town hall, with fans 12. Gael Monfils (FRA) 2,860 ing them a technological edge out of action to recover from two knee until January last year, when Nadal invited to gather and honour Djok- 13. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) 2,770 on the 23m boats, which fly operations, slipped out of the top five reclaimed pole position, he has been ovic despite coronavirus measures. 14. David Goffin (BEL) 2,760 above the water on carbon fi- on March 8 to sixth. His place was rock solid. Messages addressed to the ten- 15. Milos Raonic (CAN) 2,630 bre foiling arms. taken by Stefanos Tsitsipas. Few would bet against Djokovic, nis star were also displayed on bill- 16. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) 2,585 They also have the advan- Djokovic made his top 100 debut in who in 2016 was the first man to break boards in the Serbian capital, read- 17. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2,575 tage of sailing in home water July 2005, just weeks after Nadal had the $100 million prize money barrier, ing “Bravo Nole”, “311”, and “the best 18. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,535 and Sirena acknowledged won his first Roland Garros. ending his career with more Slams player of all time”. 19. Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) 2,516 Team NZ had been among He was top 50 in June 2006, top 20 than Federer and Nadal. ATP top 20 as of March 8: 20. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,365 AFP the world’s strongest teams over the past 35 years. But he said Luna Rossa had proved itself in lighter winds – which are expected in Auck- land’s Waitemata Harbour on Women seek coaching parity March 10 – and had achieved an impressive top speed of World Athletics president Se- per cent of its 26-strong de- wards gender parity “needs to 53.4 knots. bastian Coe told AFP on March cision-making Council will be quantifiable” and he dis- “We feel confident . . . we’ve 8 he wants an organisation in be women. The figure is cur- missed talk of “tokenism”. had a few big ups and downs which a woman can aspire to rently 30 per cent. “I am not prepared to listen and received, with merit, a the top job and one that re- There will also be more to people saying: ‘That is to- few criticisms from the media tains far more female athletes symbolic changes – at the kenism and women will come and public,” he said. as coaches and officials. 2022 World Championships through’. The reality of it is, “We’ve worked hard to get The governing body of the in Oregon the final event will they don’t,” he said, saying stronger and stronger after Olympics’ blue-ribbon sport be the women’s 4x400m relay, you need to “take a sledge- each race, regardless if we won has launched a campaign, rather than the men’s race. hammer” to such opinions. or lost... everyone’s really ready #WeGrowAthletics, to coincide Recalling the situation before “It is irrefutable that organi- to go out racing tomorrow, with International Women’s 2016, Coe recalled: “We had sations that are not diverse and we’ve got nothing to lose.” Day and build on the efforts parity in play and parity in pay lack inclusivity, underperform Sirena was relieved to be on taken to promote greater gen- but we didn’t have parity in our those that are by 15 per cent.” the water after the coronavirus der equality in track and field. platforms. It was bizarre. The other important issue Athletes hand over the baton during the women’s 4x400m relay at the forced delays to the Auckland 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun on Sunday. AFP In an interview, Coe said “It didn’t make sense that we is that if athletics – facing a regatta and cancellation of one of the key thrusts of the have so much instinctive par- fierce battle against other on Caster Semenya. In 2018, Coe conceded that the DSD some lead-up events, as well as campaign was to empower ity in our sport and a woman sports to attract and keep new World Athletics banned her issue was “a profound chal- intensifying the usual pre-race women to pursue leadership walks out of a world champi- talent – is to expand it needs and other female athletes lenge”, but said it was about squabbling over race rules and positions within athletics – onships with a gold with the to “reach out, particularly to with differences of sexual de- “creating the level playing scheduling among the teams. including his own role. same prize money as Usain younger people so show them velopment (DSD) from races field and being acutely con- “It’s been a long campaign “While male athletes can see Bolt and yet when you looked we look like the world we live between 400m and a mile scious about fairness”. with Covid,” he said. a path to become a coach or an at our governance structures in”, Coe said. unless they take hormone- World Athletics said in a “A lot of talking out of the official, that was not always the [there was no parity].” Young people, he said, suppressing drugs. statement: “Throughout this water – sometimes too much case with women,” he said. One important develop- make more subliminal ob- Semenya has twice failed to long battle, World Athletics talk out of the water, which “I’m not sure at this mo- ment was the election in 2019 servations, such as: “What overturn the regulations and has always maintained that isn’t good for our sport.” ment any woman can close of Ximena Restrepo, a former does this organisation look has now taken her legal battle its regulations are lawful and Regardless of the outcome, their eyes and imagine being Colombian sprinter, as World like, how does it sound or am to overturn the ban to the legitimate, and that they rep- Sirena said he wanted future in the position I’m sitting in. I Athletics’ first female vice- I joining something here that European Court of Human resent a reasonable, necessary editions to retain the space- want that to change.” president. is a little monochromatic?” Rights to challenge the ban. and proportionate means of age AC75 yachts, which reach In a process that began The issue of gender looms Supporters of Semenya ensuring the rights of all fe- high speeds on their foils in 2016, World Athletics has Reaching out large in the case of South Af- have criticised World Athlet- male athletes to participate on while the hull is balanced mandated that by 2027, 50 Coe said the progress to- rica’s Olympic 800m champi- ics for its stance. fair and equal terms.” AFP precariously in mid-air. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST march 10, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport UEFA bans Messi could leave Barcelona referee for remainder for PSG or Manchester City of season s Lionel Messi age Messi was when he won A match official in the De- comes to Paris this his first Ballon d’Or. cember Champions League week with Barcelona New contracts for Mbappe game between Paris Saint- in the Champions and Neymar? Germain and Istanbul Ba- LAeague, the inevitable temp- PSG’s energy and finances saksehir that was suspended tation is to think ahead to need to be focused on the after allegations of racism has next season and wonder if the future of Mbappe and the 29- been banned for the rest of Argentine might be a regular year-old Neymar. the season for “inappropriate fixture in the French capital. Both are out of contract at behaviour”, UEFA announced That remains the nightmare the end of next season. Leon- on March 8. scenario for Barcelona fans, ardo recently said a new deal Sebastian Coltescu, from even if their new president for the Brazilian was “on the Romania, was banned from Joan Laporta announced fol- right track”. carrying out “any referee’s lowing his election victory Meanwhile Mbappe has ad- function until the end of the on March 7 that he was “con- mitted he is still mulling over 2020-2021 season, [that is] un- vinced he wants to stay”. what to do next. til 30 June 2021” but was not Barcelona, like Real Madrid, “I am very happy here. I have found to have breached UEFA fear the threat to their status at always been very happy,” he articles covering racism and the top of the European game declared recently. “But I want other discriminatory conduct. posed by Qatar-owned PSG to think about what I want to The group-stage game was and Abu Dhabi-owned Man- do in the coming years, where stopped in the 14th minute, chester City. I want to be.” and then finished a day later, On the evidence of the According to documents after a touchline argument first leg of their Champions released in 2018 by Football erupted over accusations League last-16 tie, PSG have Leaks, Neymar’s existing af- Coltescu, who was the fourth bypassed Barca. Their 4-1 ter-tax salary is €30 million official, had described Basak- win at the Camp Nou means Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi (left) scores a penalty during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first ($35.8 million) a year while sehir’s Cameroonian assistant it would take a stunning turn- leg football match between FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain FC February 16. AFP Mbappe’s was due to rise to coach Pierre Webo as “black”, around in March 10’s return €11 million this year. It is or “negru” in Romanian. to stop them reaching the “Great players like Messi he told ESPN in December. lometres from Messi’s home safe to assume neither will Coltescu was also ordered quarter-finals. will always be on PSG’s list,” PSG would not need to pay city, Rosario. Both started be taking a wage reduction to attend an educational pro- A move to one of Spain’s gi- insisted the French champi- a transfer fee, and Messi – playing at Newell’s Old Boys. to stay. gramme along with assistant ants was long seen as the pin- ons’ sporting director Leonar- who turns 34 in June – would “I have to be careful not to talk Meanwhile, in January El referee Octavian Sovre. The nacle for any player, but times do in a January interview with be joining a club surely better about players who are at other Mundo published details latter avoided a ban but did have changed, as proven by France Football magazine. placed in the short term to clubs,” Pochettino said of Messi of Messi’s current contract, receive a reprimand for inap- Neymar’s transfer to Paris for “We are sat at the big table win the Champions League. in an interview last week. which it said is worth up to propriate behaviour. a world record €222 million with all those who are keeping He would also be teaming “In any case it is an easy an- €555 million over four years. The entire Romanian team ($264 million) in 2017. a close eye on it. Well, we are up with a coach in Mauricio swer. Great players can play PSG are rich but are far from of officials were replaced for PSG and City are probably not sat down yet, but we have Pochettino who is a fellow Ar- for any team.” immune to the economic cri- the restarted game by a new the only likely destinations reserved a seat just in case.” gentine. Yet Messi does not represent sis hitting football due to the refereeing team headed by for Messi should he leave. But Neymar would be delighted Indeed, Pochettino was the future. Kylian Mbappe, pandemic and also the col- the Netherlands’ Danny Mak- could a switch to Paris really to team up with the Argentine born in Murphy in the prov- scorer of a hat-trick in the lapse of France’s domestic kelie. happen? again. “It’s what I most want,” ince of Santa Fe, just 150 ki- first leg, does. He is 22, the television deal. AFP The match restarted 24 hours later with players tak- ing a knee and wearing anti- racism T-shirts before PSG won 5-1. Television microphones Chelsea, West Ham win as top-4 race heats up in the empty stadium – the match took place without Chelsea strengthened their his quality, his talent and also Helder Costa before Patrick spectators because of Covid- hold on fourth place in the his character,” Tuchel said. Bamford netted from Raphin- 19 restrictions – picked up Premier League as Kai Hav- “He needs to adapt to the ha’s cut-back, only for replays the argument, as a furious ertz inspired a vital 2-0 win Premier League, he needs to to show the ball had gone over Webo repeatedly asked why a over Everton, while West Ham be at a club where you play the touchline before the cross. racist term had been used to boosted their surprise top four to win every game, where the West Ham took the lead in describe him. challenge with a 2-0 victory highest standards are normal. the 21st minute after Luke In the exchange in question against Leeds on March 8. “That’s a normal process for Ayling tripped Jesse Lingard Coltescu said: “The black one Havertz has endured a dis- him to adapt to this mentality.” in the area. over there. This is not possi- appointing first season fol- Chelsea are unbeaten in 11 Lingard took the penalty ble. Go and identify him. That lowing his £70 million ($96 games in all competitions – and although Illan Meslier guy, the black one.” million) move from Bayer Le- winning eight times – since saved his shot, the on-loan In its statement on March 8, verkusen last year. Tuchel replaced the sacked Manchester United midfield- European football’s govern- But the Germany forward Frank Lampard in January. er snapped up the rebound. ing body said that “officials was given a rare start by Chel- They are two points ahead West Ham doubled their ad- should be adequately and sea boss Thomas Tuchel and of fifth placed West Ham, vantage seven minutes later specifically trained to make he responded by playing the who have a game in hand in when Craig Dawson was left better decisions on the choice key role in both goals at Stam- a tense race to qualify for next unmarked to head in Aaron of language and words to be ford Bridge. season’s Champions League Cresswell’s corner. used in UEFA competitions”. Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta (left) vies with Everton striker Havertz’s shot was deflect- via a top four finish. Richarlison (right) during the English Premier League match. POOL/AFP David Moyes’ side were bat- It added: “In the interna- ed into the Everton net for a The Blues have kept nine tling relegation at this stage of tional context, correct use of Ben Godfrey own goal in the clean-sheets under Tuchel dressing room. I feel positive was more difficult. We are dis- last season. language is essential to avoid first half. and only their former Ital- energy from everyone around appointed, but not too much.” But they have won four of situations such as those that The 21-year-old has not ian boss Maurizio Sarri, who the team. We need this to West Ham’s unexpected bid their last six league games to occurred in the above-men- scored in the league since Oc- went 12 games unbeaten, has have a run like this.” to finish in the top four gath- leave Hammers fans dream- tioned match.” tober, but Tuchel entrusted enjoyed a better start with the ered pace with a confident ing of a place in Europe’s elite Webo had been shown a him with an important role as west London club. Lingard shines dismantling of Leeds at the club competition. red card before the incident Chelsea’s false nine and Hav- “If you share special mo- Sixth placed Everton are London Stadium. “We are doing really well and erupted and was given a one- ertz’s intelligent movement ments and good results, this four points behind Chelsea Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa having a good season. It could match suspension for un- put him in position to earn is the thing that lifts you up to after their first away defeat might have known it wasn’t go- be a great season,” Moyes said. sporting conduct. the second-half penalty that the special performances you since November. ing to be his night when his side “I’m not saying we will fin- UEFA said his sending-off Jorginho converted. need,” Tuchel said. “They played better than us,” had two early goals disallowed. ish in the top four but we occurred before the incidents “I’m very happy with his “I can feel a strong bond Everton manager Carlo Ance- Tyler Roberts’ effort was need to hang in and see what “and was therefore not pro- performance, no doubt about between the players in the lotti said. “Once they scored it ruled out for offside against we can do.” AFP voked by them”. AFP