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Friday, april 3, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL No word on state of emergency Niem Chheng law, which was approved priorities, the NA’s Standing “In line with measures laid on Thursday, Peng Long told and 11 articles, the draft law by the Council of Ministers’ Committee will postpone out by the government and The Post that the NA had not stipulates a maximum 10- HE National Assembly Standing Committee chaired them,” he said. WHO to curb the spread of received the bill. year imprisonment for any- (NA) said it will post- by Prime Minister Hun Sen NA spokesperson Leng Peng Covid-19, the Standing Com- He said the NA will hold a one caught breaking it. pone all unnecessary on Tuesday. Long also issued a statement mittee has decided not to session on the draft law with The bill sets out formali- meetings in line with In his speech posted on the saying the legislative body invite lawmakers, or local caution amid the coronavi- ties, procedures and terms guidanceT from the Ministry of NA website, president Heng had held several extraordinary and international guests to rus outbreak. He declined to for a declaration of a state Health and the World Health Samrin said the fourth parlia- sessions over the past three attend the fourth session’s elaborate on how the NA will of emergency if the country Organisation (WHO) amid the ment session in the 6th legis- months, having passed nine opening,” he said. discuss the bill, saying only runs into danger. Covid-19 pandemic. lative mandate was due to be- laws and approved the gov- It was unclear as to when that a session through video It aims to maintain national However, it did not say gin on Thursday but has been ernment’s Cabinet reshuffle. and how the NA would de- conferencing is not allowed security and public order, when or how it will debate the delayed due to the outbreak. But the NA’s fourth session bate the state of emergency under Cambodian law. “state of emergency” draft “For meetings that are not has been postponed, he said. draft law. As of press time Consisting of five chapters Continued – page 2 Duterte tells police to kill violators of lockdown

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has told security forces to shoot dead anyone causing “trouble” in areas locked down due to the coro- navirus pandemic. About half the country’s roughly 110 million people are currently under quarantine – including mil- lions in deep poverty, left jobless by tough restrictions on movement. “My orders are to the police and military, also village officials, that if there is trouble or the situation aris- es that people fight and your lives are on the line, shoot them dead. The Philippines has so far detected 2,311 cases and reported 96 deaths, but it has only begun ramping up test- ing and so the number of confirmed infections is expected to keep rising. Duterte, who came to power in a landslide 2016 election victory, is Safe distance known internationally for his foul- mouthed tirades and a deadly crack- A vegetable vendor sets up her stall on a marked area on the floor maintaining social distancing at a bus stand during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a down on drugs, which is overwhelm- preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Chennai, India, on Thursday. AFP ingly supported by Filipinos. The president’s latest comments drew an immediate rebuke from rights groups who urged the govern- ment to provide much-needed relief supplies instead of issuing threats of Men in court for attacking fathers violence. “It is deeply alarming that President Kim Sarom Citing the victim’s relatives, Lon old father with a bamboo stick, caus- to be a drunkard. A urine test showed no Duterte has extended a policy of said the son is a drug addict and had ing serious injuries, on Tuesday. addictive substance. shoot-to-kill … Deadly, unchecked A MAN was sent to court on Wednes- been treated at a drug rehabilita- Provincial court spokesman Un “The victim sustained serious inju- force should never be referred to as a day after being arrested for slitting tion centre in from Sovantheany said on Thursday that ries and was hospitalised,” he said. method to respond to an emergency his father’s throat, causing serious December to February this year. Chen Hay, 23, was charged under Citing the victim’s relatives, he said such as the Covid-19 pandemic,” injuries, in ’s Mok While confessing to the crime, Yany Article 218 of the Criminal Code. Hay attacked his father out of anger after Amnesty International Philippines Kampoul district. told police during questioning that he “His case has been sent to the being scolded for drinking too much. said in a statement. District police chief Ek Lon said did not realise he was attacking his investigating judge for further legal He hit Chen with a bamboo stick, injur- Philippine National Police Chief Him Yany, a 27-year-old Cambo- father. “I am handling this case as procedures,” he said. ing his left armpit and backbone. Archie Gamboa said on Thursday dian Muslim, attacked his 70-year- attempted murder,” Lon said. Sre Ambel district deputy police Borey said the suspect did not flee that officers would not begin shoot- old father with a cleaver while he In a separate case in Koh Kong prov- chief Keo Borey said Hay lived with the scene and was later arrested. ing troublemakers dead. was asleep. “He sustained a very ince, a man has been charged with his father, Nin Chen, in Sre Ambel “His family reported the case to the “Probably the president just over- deep cut. His throat vessels were intentional violence with aggravating district’s Chroy Svay commune. police. He always causes violence in emphasised on implementing the law cut off almost entirely,” he said. circumstances after hitting his 53-year- He said Hay is unemployed and known the family,” he said. in this time of crisis,” he said. AFP

Are the Kingdom’s measures Don’t miss our Special Report enough to overcome Covid-19? Inside page 6-7 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Law a ‘vital tool’ to Prey Lang forest promoted contain pandemic Soth Koemsoeun Continued from page 1 of Health reported a new case HE USAID Greening of infection in Preah Siha- Prey Lang Project re- lives and health of the peo- nouk province, bringing the cently presented its ple, properties and the total to 110 in the Kingdom, three month report environment. 30 of them are women. forT the year detailing how it has Kin Phea, the director of the The latest case was found been supporting the govern- Royal Academy of ’s in a 58-year-old Cambodian ment to promote community International Relations Insti- man who had been in direct livelihoods, developing strate- tute, said the postponement contact with the more than 30 gic plans for forests, recruiting was a good decision. But he virus-infected French tourists community groups and train- said the state of emergency at a hotel in . ing rangers. bill could become law next The ministry said so far 34 According to a USAID Fa- week at the latest. people have recovered. The cebook post on Monday, the “I think the National As- latest patients to have recov- Greening Prey Lang Proj- sembly and Senate won’t need ered included a man in Siem ect has provided training to much time to approve it, and Reap who recently returned strengthen the capability of it could come out next week from a religious gathering in rangers in collaboration with because this is a vital law. Malaysia and a Belgian na- the Ministry of Environment, “It’s a tool to be used when the tional in Phnom Penh. Both and conducted a training risks of a disease outbreak are were discharged from hospi- course on patrol techniques high. A province, region, or town tal on Thursday. and law enforcement. can be placed under a state of Seven of the French tourists The USAID project offers The projects also provides training courses on patrol techniques and law enforcement. USAID Greening Prey Lang emergency when we have the who have been quarantined training courses on creating law in hand. Otherwise, we can- and treated at the hotel in Si- tourism programmes. It also programme for the Prey Lang resources, boosting the local promised by the project to not impose a ban on the public. hanoukville have also recov- supports the community pro- Extended Landscape, which economy, increasing incomes, conduct patrols three times a The government must make it ered and are waiting to return tected areas, installs bound- introduced mobile data stor- and stopping their dependence month. But it was so little that readily available when the situ- home, the ministry said. ary demarcation poles and age and demonstrates how on traditional occupations. the money could not support ation warrants it,” he said. Despite a notable number supports the Forestry Admin- to monitor conservation area Pheaktra said the project forest patrol trips. She requested But Phea said even if the bill of recoveries in the Kingdom, istration to develop a strategic management to the ministry would prevent them from log- support for hiking equipment is passed next week, he was of WHO country director Li Ai- plan for the community for- and support tourism develop- ging and hunting by participat- and more money to reduce the the view that it would not be lan urged caution in a tweet. est and raise awareness of the ment and mapping. ing in the creation of new busi- personal expenses of the com- enforced before or during the “While we are busy with the ban on the drug diclofenac to In addition, the project sup- nesses for community people. munity people. upcoming Khmer New Year. response to imported cases protect endangered vultures. ports agricultural cooperatives The project is also involved in “We experience a shortage He said the law is more likely and local transmission, we For February, the project said to profile community groups collecting data on natural re- of supplies, food and transpor- to be enforced in areas where should also take urgent ac- it supported the government as well as agricultural coopera- sources, as well as crime and tation during our patrols, and many cases of Covid-19 infec- tions in preparing for large in recruiting community lead- tives to help them meet local crime prevention. USAID money does not cover tions have been reported. scale community transmis- ers for patrols as part of their market needs, said USAID. The “The five-year project (2018 – our expenses. We need to spend On Thursday, the Ministry sion,” she stressed. engagement with rangers. project will provide Smart Mo- 2023) provides positive results more on forest patrols, and in The project has supported bile training to rangers and the in managing and conserving addition, there are many risks the observation of the num- Prey Lang community as well. natural resources and biodi- in the forest, ” Hong said. ber of cranes in Ministry secretary of state versity in the Prey Lang Wildlife The USAID Greening Prey province. It has also trained and spokesman Neth Pheak- Sanctuary,” Pheaktra said. Lang Project received a project communities on the identifi- tra said on Thursday that the However, Phork Hong, a implementation contract start- cation of key wildlife species Greening Prey Lang Project, a representative of the Preah ing from August 2018, with a and the importance of pro- collaboration between Cam- Vihear Prey Lang protected five-year extension of ongoing tecting biodiversity by facili- bodia and the US, aims to community, said Thursday support from the US govern- tating workshops to develop preserve and manage the Prey that while her team also re- ment to preserve Cambodia’s annual planning agreements Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. ceived support from the proj- natural and cultural heritage for tourism support in four Some joint action projects ect, is it very little and cannot while enhancing the lives of provinces. are aimed at strengthening the respond to the needs. For citizens in the countryside. The report stated that in role of the community in natu- nearly two years, she received The programme works in March, the project invited all ral protection areas and the lo- some money, but no other priority protected areas, in- relevant tourism stakehold- cal communities to participate needed materials. cluding Prey Lang, Prey Roka ers to introduce a new tour in the conservation of natural Hong said the money was and Chheb. The bill could become law next week, Kin Phea says. Hong Menea Justice minister promises good governance, solidarity

Ry Sochan dress all the challenges before standing Supreme Court cases, him,” he said. and 12,305 are waiting for a ver- NEWLY-APPOINTED Minis- Interior Minister and Deputy dict from the Supreme Court. ter of Justice Koeut Rith has Prime Minister Sar Kheng said Sar Kheng said there are vowed to continue imple- Rith would continue address- 10,197 convicts in the coun- menting policy reforms to ing human resource shortages try, of whom 726 are women. improve the quality of the ju- in the justice sector, just as the Affiliated Network for Social dicial system and build pub- ministry had been doing be- Accountability in East Asia lic confidence. fore his appointment. and the Pacific (ANSA-EAP) He made the remarks at A rising imbalance between executive director San Chey his swearing-in ceremony on court cases and the number told The Post on Thursday Wednesday. of judicial officials, he said, that before his appointment, King Norodom Sihamoni is- is one of the challenges to be Rith was a legal expert. sued a royal decree appoint- addressed. When he took his new posi- ing Koeut Rith as Minister of “A backlog of cases at the tion, it was seen as a politically Justice, replacing Ang Vong tribunal and the judiciary is motivated move, Chey said. Vathana, who had held the more complicated, especially He said he wanted to see position for 16 years. The after the fourth anti-drugs more adherence to the legal King also ordered Vathana to campaign was put into motion system, rather than political be appointed Senior Minister successfully. The number of landscapes, lest the judiciary in charge of Special Missions. detainees has increased drasti- in Cambodia declines further. Before he was sworn in, cally, and we have not yet ad- “In the past, indecisiveness Rith said he would continue dressed it decisively,” he said. between the justice system and to strengthen and expand He further said that as of politics had been under criti- the achievements of prior re- New Minister of Justice Koeut Rith vows to strengthen the integrity and accuracy of the work of judicial Monday, there were 38,990 cism. We find that nothing is forms in the interest of the ju- officials by strengthening discipline and professional ethics in this sector.Ministry of Justice detainees in the Kingdom, in- bad if the expert becomes the dicial sector and the nation. cluding 2,593 women. politician in a senior body. In He also committed to letting professional ethics in this cials will take an active part in He expressed hope that Rith There are 4,725 accused reality, the office of the secretary good governance serve as the sector by promoting the hon- strengthening the rule of law would gain support from the persons in the Kingdom and of state is also a political one. core of the judiciary and guar- our and dignity of the courts. in Cambodia,” he said. ministry’s leadership and re- 10,066 have been charged “Until now, we have not yet anteed internal solidarity. “To achieve all these goals, Vathana said at the ceremo- ceive energetic and sincere with a crime, said Sar Kheng. achieved an independent jus- “I vow to strengthen the I hope the senior leadership ny that Rith had learned a lot participation from officials at The Kingdom has 13,402 ac- tice system. But [we] have to integrity and accuracy of the and officials of the Ministry of about the work of the judicial all levels. cused, of which 903 are women. look at the balance between work of judicial officials by Justice, judicial officials at all sector, having worked with “I would like to support Rith Of the total, 996 face outstand- executive and judicial pow- strengthening discipline and levels and other relevant offi- him for more than one term. in his mission to faithfully ad- ing appeals cases, 131 face out- ers,” Chey said. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Winds damage 301 houses Soldiers to stay put Khouth Sophak Chakrya amid virus threats

T LEAST three peo- Ry Sochan to keep a distance of 2m from ple were injured each other. All military units and over 300 houses CONCERNS over the Covid-19 are also expected to help pre- damaged in , virus has prompted Royal Cam- vent any social threat from ,A Preah Vihear bodian Armed Forces (RCAF) exaggerated news in any social and Oddar Meanchey prov- commander-in-chief General media and other sources that inces due to rain with strong Vong Pisen to issue an order on affect society and the emotions winds on Wednesday. Tuesday banning soldiers from of the troops. In Pursat, Phnom Kravanh leaving their units and barracks “All military units must edu- district governor So Sahong or gathering for any events be- cate and issue any rule to pro- told The Post on Thursday that fore the upcoming April 14-16 tect and prevent a spread of the rain and strong winds caused Khmer New Year celebrations. virus according to the regula- injuries to three people and “Commanders must strictly tion of the government and the destroyed 46 houses in Sam- prohibit soldiers from going Ministry of Health,” said the rong and Leach communes. out of their units and bar- text regarding the order. Some houses’ roofs and aw- racks,” he wrote in his order. The order also said that nings were blown away and Pisen said all military forc- all institutions cannot allow some collapsed. es must be ready to stop the trainees to leave their com- “There was only drizzle spread of the virus and should pounds unless there is a spe- on Wednesday but the wind pay attention to the order. cial case and they have to be blew strongly and caused the “Director of the Cabinet of checked upon re-entry. houses to collapse on three the Royal Cambodian Armed Prime Minister Hun Sen people, causing serious inju- Forces, General Commander of also issued a call on March 29 ries and damages to 46 hous- Army, Expert Army, Director of to the working group of the es. Among them 16 suffered the Institution and School under Cambodian People’s Party, in- total damage,” said Sahong. the General Department of the cluding senators, members National Committee for Royal Cambodian Armed Forces of the National Assembly and Disaster Management ad- must assign and implement this government officers, youth as- viser Keo Vy said rain and order in an effective way upon sociation and other related au- strong wind were also re- A wooden house is turned upside down by strong winds in . Rains and strong winds the singing of this order unless thorities to continue to spread destroyed 301 houses in Battambang town and four districts in the province. supplied corded in Battambang, Oddar there is any new order and re- information about how to pro- Meanchey and Preah Vihear and Kors Kralor districts. Rukhakkiri had 36, Sampov ment of Water Resources. port from Headquarters of the tect themselves from illness. on Wednesday evening. Among the affected hous- Loun 31, Kors Kralor 12 and “Nobody was injured in the General Department,” he said. He asked them to bring “Even though nobody was es were some 100-year-old Battambang 30. incident,” she said. Ministry of National De- masks and hand sanitisers that injured in Battambang, the de- buildings that were built dur- Preah Vihear provincial Oddar Meanchey Provin- fence spokesman Chhum could kill the virus and distrib- struction of houses was great- ing the French era, he said. deputy governor Chek Heng cial Administration spokes- Socheat could not be reached ute rice, noodles, and canned er than in Pursat,” Vy said. The Battambang Provincial told The Post on Thursday man Chea Piseth told The for comment. fish to the poor nationwide. The rains and strong winds Administration said among that rain and strong winds Post on Wednesday that rain The order states that due to On Facebook, he wrote: “Do in Battambang destroyed 301 the five town and districts af- on Wednesday affected five with strong winds affected 27 concerns about Covid-19, all not call them to any meeting, houses in Battambang town fected on Wednesday, Moung houses and some state build- houses in three districts, in- military units must reduce the but you go to the place where and four districts, namely Russey district suffered the ings’ roofs were blown off, cluding Anlong Veng, Trapa- gathering of more than 30 peo- they live, especially in this situ- Battambang, Sampov Loun, most destruction with about including those of the pro- ing Prasat and Chongkal, but ple except when necessary. ation when we are battling and Rukhakkiri, Moung Russey 141 houses affected while vincial court and the Depart- nobody was injured. They are also under orders fighting with this Covid-19.” Ly Hour Microfinance Institution Plc receives banking licence from National Bank of Cambodia

Y HOUR Microfinance Insti- The bank will also provide the tution Plc recently received a latest high-tech banking services. Commercial Banking Licence SBI Holdings Inc, established in from the National Bank of July 1999, is a listed company on the LCambodia (NBC) to widen its bank- Tokyo Stock Exchange. ing operations. The group, which is headquar- The licence transforms Ly Hour tered in Tokyo, currently owns 260 Microfinance Institution into a companies in 20 countries around commercial bank, with the opportu- the world. nity to provide increased financial SBI Holdings operates globally services to the public. in sectors including financial Oknha Ly Hour, the chairman of services, asset management, and the board of directors, announced biotechnology-related businesses, that the new bank will be called “SBI among many others. Ly Hour Bank Plc”, and while it As of December last year, the began banking services on April 1, group had total assets of $51.4 billion. it will formally celebrate its official Investment in the Kingdom is the launch in June. long-term vision to promote and en- Ly Hour said the granting of courage financial inclusion through the banking licence indicated the modern digital banking, financial high level of trust held in Ly Hour operations and a network of agents Microfinance Institution in promot- in Cambodia. ing Cambodia’s economic growth The new SBI Ly Hour Bank Plc through providing financial services will attract greater funds into to the public. An artist’s rendition of SBI Ly Hour Bank’s new headquarters in Phnom Penh. Cambodia, increasing trust from Ly Hour expressed deep gratitude the international community and to the National Bank of Cambodia joined with SBI Holdings to create attracting long term investments for its support and trust in granting the new commercial bank. from Japanese conglomerates, the licence in order to strengthen its The bank retains its existing while reflecting confidence in operations and expand its financial leadership and management, who future growth and the Kingdom’s services to the public. are mostly Cambodian, particularly economic and political stability, as He also thanked the institution’s Oknha Ly Hour, who remains chair- well as in the Royal Government of customers for their continued man of the board of directors. Cambodia. support. Ly Hour said he is committed to Ly Hour Microfinance Institution Economic growth and political modernising products and services Plc is a subsidiary of Ly Hour Group, stability have been key in building to better serve the public. which consists of Ly Hour Exchange greater confidence from the public SBI Ly Hour Bank Plc is better Co Ltd; Ly Hour Pawnshop Co Ltd; and international investors, as well as equipped to bring benefits for Borey Vimean Phnom Penh; Tepi reflecting the strength and health of Cambodians, with the ability to Agro Investment Co Ltd; Ly Hour the Kingdom’s banking sector. acquire funds at lower cost and Leasing Plc; Ly Hour Paypro Plc; Ly Hour Microfinance Institution Chairman of the newly established commercial bank Oknha Ly Hour. provide loans at a lower rate. and Ly Hour Insurance Plc. sponsored 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Governors told to look Fake product bust: 16 nabbed at public land seizures Vorn Dara Long Kimmarita ered that officials had threat- OLICE are stepping up ened to confiscate the land of crackdowns on dealers THE Deputy Prime Minister 126 families residing in Tuol selling fake sanitisers in charge of the Office of the Khpos and Kbal Teuk com- and Covid-19 test kits. Council of Ministers, Hing munes in PNational Police spokesman Thorasky, has issued a report province’s Teuk Phos district. Chhay Kim Khoeun said on ordering ministers and three Those who made the threats Thursday that 16 people have provincial governors to check planned to sell the land to pri- been arrested and 4,000 litres for irregularities among low- vate companies, Thorasky said. of fake alcohol has been seized er-level officers who have il- He continued that the case re- over the past two weeks. legally seized public land. quires the provincial governor to He said the sale of fake al- These irregularities occurred review the situation and report cohol and Covid-19 test kits, in Battambang, Pailin and to Prime Minister Hun Sen. which are prohibited by the Kampong Chhnang provinces, Battambang provincial gov- law, affects social security and were discovered by delega- ernor Nguon Ratanak said he and public health. tions of the Nokor Democratic would hold a meeting with rele- “Therefore, this cannot be Party and the Beehive Social vant officials to review the case. allowed. They do it for noth- Democratic Party members of Ratanak could not explain ing but their interests and de- Supreme Council for Consulta- because he wasn’t clear on stroy other people’s lives. tion and Recommendations in which irregularities were be- “We have arrested 16 people February and March. ing called out by the party’s who advertised to sell or dis- According to the report, chairman. Sixteen people have been arrested and 4,000 litres of fake alcohol has been seized over the past two weeks. tribute fake Covid-19 test kits MINISTRY OF COMMERCE which Thorasky submitted Beehive Social Democratic and other related products. Of to Minister of Land Manage- Party president Mam Sonan- those, 11 were released and industrial usage,” he said. cated and released them after Cambodians are encour- ment, Urban Planning and do said the irregularities had three sent to court. Two other Oun said the authorities questioning because it’s not aged to purchase products, Construction Chea Sophara been exposed by its mem- are already going through the found the fake alcohol mostly serious. especially alcohol and hand and the governors of Battam- bers, and now the responsi- court procedures,” he said. in Phnom Penh and some in “But for those who sell pro- sanitisers, with appropriate bang, Pailin and Kampong bility rests with government Phan Oun from the Gen- province. Relevant hibited products relating to commercial signs and a clear Chhnang provinces, the dele- leaders to solve the issue and eral Department of Consumer authorities are searching for Covid-19, they must be de- source, to avoid fraudulent gates discovered wrongdoing fulfil their duty to the people. Protection, Competition and fake alcohol in other provinces. tained and sent to Court,” he and ineffective products that by officials on Monday. “The inability to solve the Fraud Prevention at the Min- Liv Sophannarith, the di- said. are harmful to their health. The report said the delegates issue causes more pain for istry of Commerce said on rector of the Secretariat for According to the Department On Wednesday, the Phnom found out that local officials the people. It does not politi- Thursday that over the two Counter Counterfeit Com- of Consumer Protection, Com- Penh municipal police also had seized 7ha of agricultural cally benefit the government weeks, relevant authorities mittee, said on Thursday that petition, and Fraud Prevention, sent two Chinese nationals to land from the residents of and it also does not benefit collaborated to collect fake the authorities stepped up the since Wednesday the authori- court for selling and distribut- Dey Kraham village, located the popularity of Samdech alcohol (methanol), including clampdowns after Prime Min- ties have seized methanol to- ing Covid-19 test kits banned in ’s O’Tavao Techo [Hun Sen]. that transported from the bor- ister Hun Sen called on them talling 100 cans, or 3,000 litres, by the Ministry of Health. commune in . “I would like to thank Sam- der, amounting to 4,776 litres. to investigate the sale of over- along Hun Sen Boulevard. Municipal court spokesper- The officials then put the dech Techo for his attention “For now, we are keeping priced alcohol and face masks. Methanol is considered a son Kuch Kimlong said the land under the ownership of to my report and I hope the all the fake products in our “Concerning the detention poisonous substance which court is also questioning sev- the Department of Agricul- issue will be resolved in a way warehouse and waiting on the of those who advertise the cannot be used for hand wash- eral other suspects over the ture, Forestry and Fisheries. that satisfies the people and court to determine whether sale of fake products and fake ing or for killing bacteria and sales of fraudulent products Thoraksy further said the provides justice for them,” he to destroy or keep them for Covid-19 test kits, we edu- can affect the health of users. concerning Covid-19. same party delegation discov- said. Hun Sen, ministers, officials donate salaries in virus fight PRIME Minister Hun Sen and other senior government of- ficials have decided to donate their salaries to the National Committee for Combating Covid-19 in support of the ongoing battle against the coronavirus. Hun Sen announced in an April 1 letter that because the Covid-19 situation in Cambo- dia has not yet diminished, he would express his sympathy by donating his 100 million riel ($25,000) monthly salary for seven months from March to September. Minister of National De- Prime Minister Hun Sen announced in an April 1 letter that he would fence Tea Banh, Minister of express his sympathy by donating his 100 million riel ($25,000) monthly salary for seven months from March to September. HEAN RANGSEY Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction to be vigilant. We have to do them,” he said. Chea Sophara, Minister of what it takes to prevent and Last month, Hun Sen an- Commerce Pan Sorasak and stop it as instructed by the nounced that the state had to Royal Cambodian Armed Ministry of Health. prepare a budget to help citi- Forces (RCAF) command- “[The ministry] has in- zens affected by the Covid-19 er-in-chief Vong Pisen also formed the public to practice pandemic. agreed to donate their sala- high standards of hygiene to He decided to cut 50 per ries, which total over four help prevent it. cent of spending for most million real per month each. Those who travel from abroad ministries and institutions, Other ministers have also are to be kept in quarantine.” while the Ministry of Nation- announced that they will do- He said all troops had already al Defence, the Ministry of nate salaries for between four prepared to intervene when a re- Commerce and the Council of and six months. quest is made by the committee. Ministers were ordered to cut The Ministry of Environ- “If problems occur during 25 per cent of their spending. ment said 36 of its officials the pandemic, they would Hun Sen reiterated that the will donate their salaries from help maintain security and salaries and allowances for one to six months. order and assist those that civil servants would not be Banh told The Post on arrive from other countries. cut during the Khmer New Thursday that the donation But they won’t carry out any Year national holiday. of government officials’ sala- operations immediately. The capital created by the ries was to express solidarity “We are prepared to resolve donated salaries will be used in the fight against Covid-19. the problem and the National in the medical sector as well “While this disease is break- Committee for Combating as to treat people infected ing out in the world, we have Covid-19 will issue orders to with Covid-19. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,071 1.4108 7.0978 107.32 4.3625 1.4303 32.99 0.6107 1.0928 1.2425 Senate okays coal-fired plants, transmission line Cuba says May Kunmakara sources and ensure a secure and stable Royal Group will develop the second In February, government spokesman power supply at affordable tariffs. plant, which will generate 700MW of Phay Siphan said via Facebook that will bring THE Senate on Thursday approved “They will also further reduce power electricity. It will use imported coal HSCMC’s coal-fired power plant proj- two coal-power plants and a power imports from neighbouring countries and be located in ’s ect requires $294.3 million in capital transmission line with a combined and contribute to the government’s . investment and will be operational by additional value of $1.7 billion. policy of reducing power tariffs for HSCMC also received government the end of next year or early in 2022. The move is in line with the govern- the people and covering all villages approval for the construction of a Royal Group’s power plant, which ment’s aim to provide 70 per cent of all and businesses,” it said. 230kW power transmission line con- will be jointly developed with Beijing- investors households with access to reliable and The Senate approval comes about necting Trapaing Prasat to the Siem headquartered Sinosteel Equipment affordable electricity by 2030, according two months after the Council of Min- Reap East substation. and Engineering Co Ltd, requires Thou Vireak to the UN’s Sustainable Development isters’ approval early in February. The three investment projects are $1.34 billion in capital investment Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy. Han Seng Coal Mine Co Ltd (HSCMC) necessary to adequately ensure the and will be online in 2023 or 2024. CUBA on Wednesday vowed The Senate meeting was presided will invest in a 265MW coal power plant safety and security of electricity supply The development date for the trans- to encourage its citizens to over by acting president Sim Ka, it said located in ’s in Cambodia between next year and mission line with an estimated capital invest in Cambodia after the in a statement. The projects are cru- Trapaing Prasat district using coal from 2024, especially in the dry season, when investment of $61.5 million has not ongoing pandemic has sta- cial to increase the capacity of power the area, the council said. hydropower generation is at its lowest. been announced, Siphan said. bilised, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon said via the min- istry’s official Facebook page. The remarks were made dur- ing a meeting between Khon and newly appointed Cuban CDC approves Ambassador to Cambodia, Li- urka Rodriguez Barrios. Noting the potential of the Kingdom’s tourism industry, seven projects Rodriguez Barrios said: “Cuba will continue to support and strengthen the good relations with Cambodia. worth $174M “When the Covid-19 crisis disappears from the world, Hin Pisei . the Republic of Cuba will con- Other projects include the tinue to attract more tourists HE Council for the $11.6 million hair accessory and investors to Cambodia,” Development of manufacturer Viscot Prod- she said. Cambodia (CDC) on ucts Co Ltd in Prey Nhat com- Cuba’s revolutionary gov- Wednesday approved mune’s Samdech Ov village ernment first established dip- sevenT investment projects in ’s lomatic relations with Cam- worth $174.1 million and ex- Kong Pisei district; and $32.9 bodia during late King Father pected to generate 3,328 jobs, million car tyre and spare parts Norodom Sihanouk’s reign on it said in a press release. manufacturer Sundance In- April 15, 1960 – a year after Fi- The CDC issued final reg- dustries Co Ltd in Taing Krouch The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on Wednesday approved seven investment projects del Castro seized power from worth $174.1 million and expected to generate 3,328 jobs. CDC istration certificates to the $5 commune’s Tompeam village US-backed dictator Fulgencio million Precise Electric Manu- in Kampong Speu province’s social security, favourable The World Bank adjusted ther refuted nor accepted the Batista. facturing (Cambodia) Co Ltd Samrong Tong district. investment laws and large its projection of the King- World Bank’s updated projec- Khon said the two countries located in Anlong Tnort com- The remaining projects are workforce make Cambodia dom’s 2020 economic growth tion and will maintain its six plan to celebrate their 60th mune’s Totoeng village in Pur- $8.6 million Topec Electric Co attractive to investors from to 2.5 per cent from its ear- per cent projection for now. anniversary of relations once sat province’s ; Ltd in Sna Ansa commune’s around the world lier “slightly below seven per “The government has not the crisis has been complete- the $6.1 million Ju Wang Foot- Saravoan village in Pursat prov- The province continues to cent” prediction, it said, in a yet completed its assessment ly put under control. wear Co Ltd along National ince’s Krakor district; and the welcome investors regularly report released on Tuesday. of the [outbreak’s] impact on “I highly appreciate the Cu- Road 6A in Khnor Dambang $102 million Kepstar Data Cen- despite the worldwide shock However, the bank expects the economy. We are moni- ban investors who have con- commune’s Rovieng village tre Management Co Ltd in Kan- of the Covid-19 epidemic, he growth to rebound to 5.9 toring all aspects before we tributed in boosting econom- in province’s taok commune’s Kol village in said. “As the provincial au- per cent next year under the re-evaluate [our figures]. ic development in Cambodia ; and the Phnom Penh’s Kambol district. thority, I always meet with baseline scenario. “We will continue to moni- in the past, and we welcome $7.9 million Imperial Star So- Kampong Speu provincial people who want to come Ministry of Economy and Fi- tor the impact of the Covid- new investors,” he said. lar (Cambodia) Co Ltd in Pich governor Vei Samnang told and invest, and they often nance spokesman Sok Sensan 19 pandemic for the time Cambodia Chamber of Mony commune’s Chas village The Post on Thursday that invite me to visit manufactur- told The Post on Wednesday being before we make adjust- Commerce vice-president in Kampong Speu province’s healthy political conditions, ing plants abroad.” that the government has nei- ments,” he said. Lim Heng told The Post on Thursday that there is little in the way of Cuban investment. However, the Kingdom wel- comes all foreign nationals Delivery apps booming in midst of Covid-19 epidemic willing to invest. “It’s wonderful that Cuba Thou Vireak niences for our customers during this ery day because people are afraid of business, Touch Ratha, told The Post will encourage its investors critical time,” she said. The service is the spread of the coronavirus, and the move online was made to make it and people to come to Cam- WHILE the fear of catching Covid-19 only available in Phnom Penh though. are confining themselves at home,” easier for customers to order food. bodia after the Covid-19 [sit- has kept some people out of restaurants Muuve’s app customises the catego- he said. He said the company receives an av- uation] has eased,” he said. and fast food shops, food delivery com- ries and preferences of food based on Tom said in response to the increased erage of 150 food orders per day, and The Cambodia Develop- panies have reported a sharp growth in the users’ interests, she said. The most demand, Nham24 has expanded, part- he expects to soon reach 300 per day. ment Council (CDC) has ap- business since the virus emerged. popular ordered items are street food, nering with more than 2,000 restau- Ratha attributes the recent spike in proved 40 investment proj- Muuve is a food delivery service fast food and milk tea. rants and stores in Phnom Penh and sales to Hok Heng’s dedication to pro- ects worth more than $900 based in Phnom Penh with about “To respond to the outbreak, we Siem Reap, and he plans to expand viding a safe, hygienic food service at million during the first three 95,000 users and its head of market- have also been working on develop- to three other provinces – Kampong an affordable price. months of this year, national ing, Hoen Sodalen, confirmed the up- ing a feature to track Covid-19 in all of Cham, and Battambang. “The orders are increasing daily, in press agency Agence Kampu- tick in business. Cambodia. “The increasing popularity of smart- line with the trend of more people pre- chea Presse reported. “During the last three months before “We also teach our drivers to prac- phones in Cambodia has also boosted ferring to use social networks to sell The projects are mostly the outbreak, orders on Muuve have in- tice social distancing and hygiene sales in Phnom Penh,” he said. goods,” he said. investments in garments, creased by 130 per cent,” she told The throughout the whole process – from Chef Seng Hok Heng moved his ca- A report by the Telecommunications footwear, travel products, Post. picking up food in stores to delivering tering business online after people Regulator of Cambodia indicated an furniture, kitchen appliances, Muuve partners with 80 per cent of it to the customer,” she said. started avoiding large parties in re- increase in mobile phone subscribers electrical components, as the restaurants in Phnom Penh and Nham24 is a similar app and its co- sponse to the coronavirus. in the Kingdom last year. The 16.12 mil- well as hotels and shopping they offer everything from street food founder, Som Tom echoed Sodalen’s He published a Facebook page titled lion subscribers reported last year was malls, said the report. to takeout from restaurants. sentiments that orders have spiked on Hengmart and a website (www.seng- an increase of 18.5 per cent from 2018. “We only offer a food delivery service the app since the coronavirus’ outbreak. hokheng.com), where users can order The number of registered Facebook www.phnompenhpost.com at this point, but we are working on “We see a growing number of orders food and groceries in Phnom Penh. accounts in 2018 also rose 29 per cent check the post website expanding shortly to provide conve- for food and goods being shipped ev- The general manager of Hok Heng’s last year to 8.8 million accounts. for breaking news 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com S pecial​​ ReportReport Can Kingdom’s measures overcome Covid-19? The morbid effects of the coronavirus has prompted the Kingdom to cut back unnecessary spending, impose fiscal and monetary policies, and sacrifice tax revenue. But are these enough to take it through this rough period?

Sangeetha Amarthalingam In mid-March, a fiscal But is the overall package cated deeper contraction fol- halting altogether due to the providing financial support stimulus plan of $800 mil- sufficient? Understandably, lowed by a sluggish recovery. lockdown in China. and food to poor and vulner- WO weeks ago, a ques- lion to $2 billion, equivalent iis hard to predict. The foreboding outlook, The plunge in Chinese able groups in case of emer- tion popped up wheth- to seven per cent of the gross “In a worst-case scenario, I which includes the likelihood tourist numbers is devastat- gencies, as well as financing er China could be hid- domestic product (GDP), think Cambodia can imple- of increased poverty, revealed ing because of their large rep- aid to airlines registered in ing figures of Covid-19 was announced to ease the ment a lockdown, although how the magnitude of potential resentation in total arrivals. Cambodia. newT cases after successive days overarching effects of the long we can sustain or whether economic distress and the In 2018, 33 per cent of total Restaurants and travel of reporting none. The question coronavirus in six months to the planned reserve package is need for urgent action. tourist arrivals were Chinese agents in Sihanoukville, , is moot but realistically speak- a year. sufficient or not may depend “Containment of the pan- nationals, who contributed Kampot and Phnom Penh ing, why would they? The government also on how long the outbreak will demic would allow recovery nearly 20 per cent of Cambo- could also benefit from the ex- They have lost a lot. Be it in dropped hints of an emer- last,” said economics professor but the risk of durable finan- dia’s GDP that year. pansion of existing measures. the number of people who gency order with a curfew Samreth Sovannroeun. cial stress is high even beyond ADB showed that a decline The ministry is looking at died or in the contraction of its between 8pm and 5am, and Unlike other countries, 2020,” World Bank said. in tourism revenue could expanding its 20 per cent economy. A host of fiscal, mon- even the use of military might Cambodia has been slow to A recent simulation done cause a 1.4 per cent to 3.5 per wage subsidy for garment etary and security measures, to ensure restricted move- implement a lockdown. To by Asian Development Bank cent drop which translates to workers and retraining cours- both austere and desperate, ment, if necessary. be fair, the figures have not (ADB) revealed that in a best- $346 million and $857 million es for those affected in the were implemented to flatten All these are expected to be grown exponentially. As of case scenario on the back of in losses, respectively, to the tourism sector provided they the Covid-19 curve and deal financed through its savings, April 1, 110 cases were re- a two-month-long travel ban Cambodian economy. enrol in the programmes. with the economic impact. which was bumped up by ported to be positive while 34 and the sharp decline in do- It is foretelling, seeing that “In short, the government will The measures including tax revenue and production, have recovered. mestic demand due to the many hotels have pulled continue to focus on support- shutting down factories, re- and the rationalisation of its Nevertheless, the outlook is outbreak, Cambodia could down the shutters because ing the poor and vulnerable stricting human movement budget by cutting down non- grim. face a 1.15 per cent impact they simply cannot afford the groups, and help businesses and closing borders crippled prioritised expenditures The latest World Bank report to its total GDP amounting to rent and salaries anymore, stay afloat. More importantly, its economy, which was al- The rationalisation, such as sharply revised Cambodia’s $283.3 million. said Cambodia Hotel Associa- Cambodia plans to raise the ready chafed by the protract- cutting back overseas meet- forecast economic growth for If the outbreak lasts for six tion president Clais Chenda. Covid-19 expenditure, if need- ed US-Sino trade war and a ings and postponing large 2020 to 1.0 per cent (lower months, up to $711.4 million “Initially, the staff worked ed,” the ministry said. slowing global economy. Yet, public infrastructure projects case) and 2.5 per cent (base- could be hived off the GDP. on shifts or took temporary That is well and good but the it had to be done. to 2021, has freed up $471 line), from around seven per Even grimmer, ADB said a hy- leave but the solution did not absence of a breakdown makes In Cambodia, the predica- million or 5.7 per cent of the cent previously, depending pothetical worse case situa- last as revenue fell to zero. it difficult to take stock of its ef- ment is sullen, all the same. government budget. on two scenarios. tion shows a nearly $1 billion Employees lost their jobs forts, as some the efforts are Not just the rising patient Prime Minister Hun Sen is The baseline scenario economic loss in the event while hotel owners are facing already in place in light of the numbers but Covid-19’s col- also donating his salary for showed severe growth slow- that Cambodia experiences bankruptcy,” she added. EBA’s partial withdrawal. lateral impact on the working the next seven months to down followed by a strong an outbreak of its own be- The order to close karaoke In the meantime, the Na- class and economic sectors. fund Covid-19 efforts. recovery while the latter indi- yond six months. outlets and casinos has also tional Bank of Cambodia The fact is, economic displaced several thousands (NBC) introduced a series of growth has been slightly chal- of workers who rely on tips to monetary measures to inject lenged since the European make up for their small wages. liquidity and ensure contin- Commission’s decision to Ath Thorn, president of ued lending to keep the econ- partially withdraw the Every- Cambodia Labour Confed- omy stimulated. thing but Arms (EBA) scheme eration (CLIC), lamented that It includes delaying the 50 in August. It was further the highly-staffed service and per cent capital reserve re- dampened by the slowdown manufacturing sectors are quirement of banks and re- in Chinese tourist arrivals the worst hit. ducing the interest rate on starting in January. “Some have lost their live- the liquidity-providing collat- So, hard times were evident lihoods while others are left eralised operation. as hundreds of thousands of with partial salary, which is The central bank also in- blue-collar employees in the not much. Ninety per cent of structed banks and microfi- two million-man manufac- them have microloans. Not nance institutions to assist turing and service industries having an income is weighing four target groups in restruc- teetered on the brink of in- down on them especially with turing their loans to ease the come loss as a result of unem- Khmer New Year around the burden of borrowers facing ployment or partial pay. corner,” said Thorn, a wage major dips in revenue and A few weeks ago, the govern- earner himself. difficulty accessing credit. ment said it would absorb 20 On the offside, banks are per cent of the $190 monthly Taking stock of measures likely to feel the impact on salary package of minimum Cambodia’s delay in imple- their interest income, but wage workers while the em- menting a lockdown points NBC is certain that its strict ployer pays 40 per cent but to calculated considerations, regulations during the good losing 40 per cent of a full in- such as the drawing up of the time meant that banks and come is a large chunk. state of emergency law and microfinance institutions As a least developed coun- lining up adequate measures. to have the capital buffer to try with goals of hitting up- Besides the fiscal stimu- weather this situation. per middle income in 2030, lus package, four-month tax It plans to work closely with rolling back to lower growth breaks for hotels and guest- the Association of Banks in can alter its dynamics, such houses in Siem Reap and Cambodia and Cambodia as achieving higher gross na- Sihanoukville, and a six-to- Microfinance Association to tional income (GNI) per capi- 12-month tax holiday for af- ensure effective implementa- ta. In 2018, GNI per capita was fected garment factories were tion of the guideline to ensure $1,380 compared to $1,230 in introduced this year. temporary relief of the repay- 2017, ADB data showed. Some $500-$600 million in ment burden of the borrower. But with the outbreak dis- low-interest loans will also be UN Development Pro- rupting raw material imports disbursed to businesses via gramme Cambodia resident from China and the tempo- financial institutions to help representative Nick Beresford rary suspension of 57 facto- with their cash flow problems. commended the NBC for its ries, and more expected in Separately, the government quick measures to ease li- the coming weeks, experts has spent $30 million to pur- quidity constraints by reduc- are saying that 90 per cent of chase protective equipment ing the reserve requirements the textile sector is at peril, for the healthcare sector. to seven from 12.5 per cent. which ultimately affects some Replying to The Post, the “The opportunity now is on 500,000 workers. Ministry of Economy and Fi- the fiscal side for the govern- On top of that, 600,000 nance said the stimulus pack- ment to put into operation a workers in tourism-related age would be used as wage stimulus programme to help sectors such as hoteliers, subsidies and social protec- raise aggregate demand. The tour operators, and waiters, tion or safety net programmes, measures to pay workers 60 have been left to fend for and re-skill workers. per cent of the minimum wage themselves as tourist arriv- It is considering other in- where their factory has closed Construction workers are screened for temperature at a site on Hun Sen Boulevard Sangeetha amarthalingam als turned to a trickle before tervention measures such as is very helpful,” he said. EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ECONOMIC UPDATE APRIL 2020

citizens and governments of many other countries are reacting by taking similar action, which is hitting demand and supply in these countries in turn. That is amplifying the mutual shocks through not just flows of trade and tourists, but also finance. The EAP region’s reliance on these flows magnifies its exposure to the shocks.

The pandemic is profoundly affecting the region’s economies, but the depth and duration of the shock are unusually uncertain. This update, presents both a baseline and a lower-case scenario. Growth in China is projected to decline to 2.3 percent in the baseline and 0.1 percent in the lower-case scenario in 2020, from 6.1 percent in 2019. Growth in the rest of the developing EAP region is projected to slow to 1.3 percent in the baseline and to negative 2.8 in the lower-case THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com scenario in 2020, from an estimated 4.7 percent in 2019. Containment of the pandemic would allow recovery, but the7 risk of durable financial stress is high even beyond 2020. Most vulnerable are countries that have poor disease control and prevention systems; that rely heavily on trade, tourism, andS commodities;pecial​​ that are heavily R indebted;eport and that rely on volatile financial flows.

The package could include a “This includes the poor and cash transfer to help the poor, other marginalised groups, Growth is forecast to decline sharply in the region the near-poor and vulnerable. and workers in informal sec- “When those in poverty [or tors that make up the ma- 8 7.1 7.0 close to it] are given some fi- jority of employment in the 5.8 6.1 5.9 nancial assistance they are Kingdom. 5.6 6 4.9 5.0 4.8 4.8 likely to spend it quickly on “The poor will also spend 4.3 3.6 essential goods in their local almost all of any increase in 4 3.0 3.4 3.0 2.5 2.3 2.5 markets. That helps them and their income and this is ex- 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.4 2.0 2.4 1.5 their families, and collective- actly what is required during 2 1.0 1.0 0.2 ly, it helps to boost the econo- a sharp drop-off in demand 0.1 my too,” Beresford said. like in the current situation,” 0 –0.5 –0.5 –0.1 Malaysia and South Korea, Menon said. –0.9 which have instituted a strict With little retail demand –2 Percent lockdown, injected additional due to the outbreak, west- –2.8 –3.0 –4 –3.5 funds to reduce the financial ern brands and retailers are –4.0 –4.6 –5.0 struggles which have affected a cancelling or postponing or- –6 cross-section of their societies, ders, causing panic among

including small businesses, and garment manufacturers who PNG formal and informal workers. have asked its buyers not to China Lao PDR Vietnam Vietnam Thailand Malaysia Myanmar Mongolia Indonesia Cambodia

For Cambodia, the current give up on Cambodia. Philippines Timor-Leste Timor-Leste economic pains are merely Small and medium-sized Developing EAP Developing EAP the tip of the iceberg, seeing enterprises (SMEs) are equal- 2019 2020f baseline 2020f lower case that a third of the working ly reeling although one half population earns less than of that sector which makes Source: World Bank. World Bank staff calculations. $200 a month. essential items such as soap, Note: Baseline refers to a scenario of severe growth slowdown followed by a strong recovery. Lower case refers to a scenario of a deeper contraction followed by a sluggish recovery. The national poverty level shampoo, soy sauce and al- was around 13.5 per cent in cohol remains steady despite 2014, according to the ADB, the lack of raw supply, said 110,000The COVID-19 members shock with will 286 also haveSamreth a serious said withimpact limited on poverty Cambodia’s and welfare, budget through seems illness, World death, Bank and and lost International incomes. and with a higher number of Federation of Association of trade union and communi- resources, helping the right somewhat conservative but Monetary Fund have lined up Covid-19 cases found in the SMEs president Te Taingpor. tiesUnder in eight the jobbaseline sectors. growth scenario,targets nearly by giving 24 million priority fewer to experts people are are confident estimated it towould escape low-interest poverty across financing developing pack- provinces, the situation is “However, the production EAP“Restructuring in 2020 than loans would is have a individuals, in the absence firms of the or pandemic. busi- pull Underthrough the with lower-case the help scenario,of ages poverty that total is upestimated to $70 bil-to worrisome. of non-essential items, for ex- goodincrease move by but about subsidies 11 million or nessespeople. severelyHouseholds affected linked by to affecteddevelopment sectors partners. will suffer disproportionately.lion for emergency For use.example, This is why Jayant Menon, ample, clothing, snacks and cash handouts are better op- the outbreak is very impor- “The government’s fiscal When asked, the ministry a visiting senior fellow with souvenirs, is raising our oper- tionspoverty as many rates don’t could have double any amongtant to households avoid a moral in Vietnam hazard linkedposition to manufacturing has always beenreliant saidon imported it would welcomeinputs, and every in Singapore’s Institute of South- ating cost, and we find it hard moneysome Pacificleft. They Islands can use where the tourismproblem. is an important source ofstrong employment. with comparatively While these estimates source offor funding,GDP and including poverty east Asian Studies-Yusof to service our loans. We need handoutsare projections, to buy foodthey orreveal pay the “[Thus]magnitude it may of potential be difficult economic lower distress levels ofand debt, the roughlyneed for urgentthat from action. its development Ishak Institute, concurs with to stop producing to lower the for transport,” said Taing Por. to identify the right targets a third of the GDP, and high partners, NGOs and individu- Beresford that the stimulus to expenditure and this could af- due to the fact that economic levels of reserves, which po- als as it is in line with the gov- offset a slowdown in growth fect 50 per cent to 70 per cent Can the funds hold up? activities are interconnected sitions it well in respect of le- ernment’s policy direction. due to Covid-19 should shift of workers,” he said. The proof of the pudding is and complicated,” he added. veraging new loans. “Currently, our partners such to direct fiscal measures. The temporary suspension in the eating, or so the idiom However, another challenge “As a lower-middle-income as Japan, Germany, China and “These measures should be might be inevitable due to goes. Meaning to say, only is its fund adequacy. Globally, nation, Cambodia still enjoys the World Bank have expressed targeted to increase spend- falling demand but the gov- when a lockdown is imple- billions of dollars in existing concessional rates of interest commitment to fight against ing as well as assist the most ernment has yet to pay its 20 mented can the actual ben- funds are being topped up to and longer payback periods,” Covid-19,” it said. vulnerable groups in Cambo- per cent of workers’ salary, efit of some of the measures fight against Covid-19 espe- Beresford said. Till then, Cambodia is ex- dia that are being particularly said CLIC’s Thorn whose or- be weighed and if the funds cially where situations turned In the past month, multi- pected to ride the waves with- hard hit by the pandemic. ganisation represents about are sufficient. graver. lateral donors such as ADB, in its means.

xvi OVERVIEW J Trust Royal and AIA Cambodia conclude systems integration work

enabling advanced payables10158-EAP Economic Update_73177_newB.indd management 16 technology for AIA Cambodia 3/30/20 6:17 PM

Trust Royal Bank (“JTRB”) and AIA (Cam- bodia) Life Insurance J Plc (“AIA Cambodia”) today announced the success- ful integration of JTRB’s Core Banking System and AIA Cam- bodia’s Enterprise Resource Planning System (“ERP”) for Payables Management. The project was com- plex and extensive and this achievement is a testament to the commitment and strong collaboration between the teams at JTRB and AIA Cam- bodia. “J Trust Royal Bank has been very supportive of AIA Cam- bodia’s digitalisation,” said Eric Ho, AIA Cambodia Chief Finance Officer and Chief Ac- J Trust Royal Bank is part of the J Trust Co., tuary, in appreciation of JTR’s Ltd. of Japan, a financial conglomerate with efforts in making the integra- operations across Asia including in Indonesia, tion a reality. “We strongly be- Singapore, South Korea and Mongolia. lieve that this successful inte- gration will bring to each and includes technology that enables every one of AIA Cambodia’s automation of standardised pay- vendors the benefit of using ment file exchange between cus- the most advanced payables tomers’ ERP with our Swift FileAct management system in the solution. market today.” AIA Cambodia is among the first J Trust Royal expresses their of our customers to benefit from sincerest gratitude to AIA this integration project. Cambodia for having select- J Trust Royal Bank is a joint ven- ed JTRB as their key strategic ture between J Trust (Japanese partner in this integration, a diversified financial holding com- clear affirmation of AIA Cam- pany listed on the Tokyo Stock bodia’s continued trust and Exchange) and the Royal Group. confidence in J Trust Royal. AIA Cambodia is part of the AIA JTRB is making a signifi- Group Limited which is the largest cant investment in digitising life insurer in the world by market the Cambodian market. This J Trust Royal headquarters in Phnom Penh. capitalisation. a l Advertori 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus E-Commerce PHOTOs su pp lied PHOTOs

Nham24 founder Chann Borima has vowed not to raise delivery fees. Drew Price, the owner of Carolina BBQ in Russian Market, prepares an order for delivery. Nham24 delivers the goods will then leave the money for the driver at a safe distance,” Borima said. Some two kilometres away from Nham24’s office, Masala Dosa Street Kitchen owner Dharma Gohi said he had made the decision to employ a deliv- ery driver to ensure the health of his patrons. Dharma, who had previously opposed offering takeaway estaurateurs are and deliveries as he wanted his faced with a stark food to be eaten fresh, is also choice – adapt or go trying to get through the out- bust. break by switching to online RWith the Covid-19 outbreak platforms. seeing businesses shut their Masala Dosa Street Kitchen dining areas to ensure the virus is accepting cashless payments is contained, many eateries for the first time and dropping have resorted to offering take- takeout orders at the gate of out or delivery. the restaurant’s premises near Chann Borima, the founder the National Museum. of Nham24, said that his food “I have given paid holiday and grocery delivery service to my staff because them com- has seen a massive increase in ing and going is risky,” he said. demand during the outbreak. Back at Nham24’s office, its Nham24 is “refining the pro- founder said the homegrown cess and producing educational delivery service was committed text and video training for to protecting customers and contactless delivery”, Borima drivers alike. said from his office in Phnom Borima added that he was Penh’s Chaktomuk district. recruiting tuk-tuk drivers to “When customers place Homegrown delivery service Nham24 is providing drivers with free facemasks and hand sanitiser. help those who may be feel- their order, they have the op- ing the pinch due to lessened tion of ‘deliver in person’ or which in little more than a year who work here have elderly heads and the increase in de- He said that while demand demand for their services. ‘contactless delivery’, with has already earned a reputa- family members – ­and that guy liveries, Price told The Post that from office workers remained Nham24 has spent more the default option being tion as being the go-to spot for has a baby,” Price said, motion- he credited Nham24 and other high, home deliveries are be- than $3,000 on providing its contactless. southern comfort food, said he ing towards his grill man. delivery companies for him not coming increasingly popular. some 400 drivers with free “With this option, clients chose to close his dining room Price, like other restaurant only reaching his break-even At the same time, a growing facemasks and hand sanitiser. and drivers will have to keep a to ensure the safety of his owners, reported that he had point, but also record a small number of people were opting “This is not the time to be distance of at least two metres, employees. seen a substantial increase in profit in the first week after to pay for their goods through rich – this is the time to serve so when the driver arrives, they “This decision was not only deliveries since the outbreak. closing Carolina BBQ’s dining digital payment services, such the community. We commit not will call the customer and then for our customers, but also On March 24, he temporarily room. as SmartLuy, ABA PAY and to raise prices at all. deliver the package from a safe for our employees. I couldn’t closed his dining room, hoping Borima noted that Nham24 Wing, or major credit cards. “At times like this, people distance. live with it on my conscience “to just break even until all this was experiencing a shift in the “We encourage people to can begin to take advantage, Drew Price, owner of Caro- if someone passed it along to blows over”. trend for its services due to the pay online, but if they choose but that is not our philosophy,” lina BBQ in Russian Market, their family. A lot of the people However, with lower over- outbreak. to pay with cash, the customer said Borima. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Global virus cases approaching one Pearl killing conviction million as newborn baby dies in US overturned ONFIRMED coro- with sky-rocketing infec- navirus infections tions and a severely strained by Pakistan around the world health system. approached one Having already caused the A PAKISTANI court on Thursday millionC on Thursday as the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to be overturned the death sentence for pandemic spread at a “near- postponed for a year, the British-born militant Ahmed exponential” rate, with a pandemic on Wednesday Omar Saeed Sheikh, who had six-week-old baby becoming claimed its latest sporting been convicted in the 2002 killing one of the youngest known victim as the Wimbledon ten- of US journalist Daniel Pearl. victims. nis tournament was shelved. Defence lawyer Khawja Naveed Half the planet is under The cancellation of the said his client’s sentence had been some form of lockdown as world’s oldest Grand Slam reduced to seven years in prison. governments struggle to tournament – for the first Since Omar Sheikh had been in clamp down on a virus that time since World War II – prison since 2002, he was expect- has killed tens of thousands leaves the season in disar- ed to be released, but the court of people. ray, with no tennis set to be had not yet issued that order, Those restrictions – while played until mid-July. Naveed added. necessary for health – risk Roger Federer proclaimed Prosecutors were not immedi- causing global food short- himself “devastated” by the ately available for comment. Paki- ages, experts have warned, news, while Serena Williams stani media reported that the ver- as supply chains gum up and said: “I’m shooked [sic]”. dict was handed down by two panic buying sparks export But the loss of sporting judges in the Sindh High Court. controls. events in the developed Naveed and local media said the The death toll from Covid- world paled in comparison court also overturned the convic- 19 continued its relentless with the hardships imposed tions of three other men in the case. march upwards, with more on those in poorer parts of They had been convicted of abet- than 46,000 people known to the globe, where lockdowns ting Omar and sentenced to life in Half the planet is under some form of lockdown as governments struggle to clamp down on a virus that have died worldwide. has killed tens of thousands of people. AFP were threatening whole com- prison. It was not immediately clear The US, which now ac- munities. when they might be released. counts for almost a quarter Governor Ned Lamont tweet- we have witnessed a near ex- Fernando Simon, head Dwellers of South Africa’s Pearl, 38, was the South Asia of reported global infections, ed. “This is heartbreaking.” ponential growth in the num- of Spain’s health ministry’s townships say it is simply im- bureau chief for The Wall Street logged its 5,000th death over- The new coronavirus has ber of new cases, reaching al- emergency coordination possible to stay at home. Journal when he was abducted in night, according to a tally by chiefly affected the elderly most every country,” he said. unit, said it appeared the “We don’t have toilets . . . we Karachi in January 2002 while Johns Hopkins University. and those with pre-existing “The number of deaths country may have passed the don’t have water, so you must researching a story about Islamist US President Donald Trump medical conditions, but sev- has more than doubled in peak. go out,” said Irene Tsetse, 55, militants. said things were going to get eral recent cases have high- the past week. In the next The US is rapidly becoming who shares a one-bedroom A graphic video showing his worse. “We’re going to have lighted that it can affect peo- few days, we will reach one the worst-hit country, with shack in Khayelitsha town- decapitation was delivered to the a couple of weeks, starting ple from all walks of life. million confirmed cases and its total number of infections ship with her son. US consulate in the city nearly a pretty much now, but espe- The dead have included a 50,000 deaths.” rising above 215,000. The macroeconomic im- month later. Omar Sheikh was cially a few days from now, 13-year-old in France, a 12- Britain and France both More than three-quarters pacts of such measures arrested in 2002 and sentenced to that are going to be horrific. year-old in Belgium and 13- reported their highest daily of US citizens are under could be far-reaching, ex- death by an anti-terror court. “But even in the most chal- year-old Ismail Mohamed death tolls from Covid-19 on lockdown, including tens of perts warned. In January 2011, a report lenging of times, Americans Abdullah in Britain, whose Wednesday, although there thousands of prisoners, who The Food and Agriculture released by the Pearl Project at do not despair. We do not family said the “gentle and were signs the epidemic were told on Wednesday they Organisation, the WHO and Georgetown University following give in to fear,” he said. kind” boy had no underlying could be peaking in Europe. would be confined to their World Trade Organisation an investigation into his death Among the latest US fatali- health issues. Italy’s toll – the highest in cells for two weeks. said panic buying could made chilling revelations, claim- ties was a six-week-old baby World Health Organisa- the world – climbed past Officials also shuttered the threaten food supplies. ing that the wrong men were con- who was taken to a Connect- tion (WHO) head Tedros Ad- 13,000, while Spain sur- Grand Canyon to prevent “Uncertainty about food victed for Pearl’s murder. icut hospital late last week. hanom Ghebreyesus said the passed 9,000. tourists from gathering there availability can spark a wave In 2014, a Pakistan anti-terror- “Testing confirmed last disease’s rapid spread was But epidemiologists said and New York announced of export restrictions, creat- ism court acquitted Qari Hashim, night that the newborn was alarming. the infection rate was con- that basketball courts would ing a shortage on the global- who had been arrested in the case Covid-19 positive,” the state’s “Over the past five weeks, tinuing to slow. be closed as the city grapples market,” they said. AFP in 2005. The judge at the time said there was a lack of evidence in the case. The investigation, led by Pearl’s friend and former Wall Street Jour- nal colleague Asra Nomani and a Israeli-Palestinian unity tested by rising cases Georgetown University professor, claimed the reporter was mur- THE onset of the coronavirus There are more than 5,500 Then a video emerged that Shtayyeh has since demand- nities considered illegal under dered by Khalid Sheikh Moham- pandemic fostered rare confirmed Covid-19 cases appeared to show a sick Pal- ed that all Palestinians still international law. med, the alleged mastermind of moments of unity between among Israel’s nearly 10 mil- estinian worker after being working in Israel return to the Palestinians with jobs in the the September 11, 2001 attacks, Israeli and Palestinian leaders lion people, and 122 con- dumped at a checkpoint by West Bank. settlements were warned by not Omar Sheikh. but as the severity of the out- firmed cases in the West Bank, Israeli authorities. But some said they are not in their government of high Mohammed – better known as break has escalated so too home to some 2.7 million Pal- The video went viral and a position to give up the income caseloads within the Jewish KSM – was arrested in Pakistan in have tensions. estinians. outraged Palestinians. they earn in Israel. communities. 2003 and is being held in Guan- Early cooperation saw the Testing rates in the West Shtayyeh said it showed Palestinian worker Faraj, who Israel had said that Palestin- tanamo Bay. A US psychologist Ramallah-based Palestinian Bank are lower than in Israel. “racist” conduct by the Israe- asked that his full name be ians working in settlements who interviewed KSM said the Authority work closely with “The real weakness in the lis. withheld, said he had decided were free to cross back and prisoner had told him that he had Israeli health officials, includ- Palestinian battle against the Israeli police said the man to share a room with four other forth daily before a complete beheaded Pearl. ing on population movement spread of coronavirus is the had arrived at a hospital colleagues in Israel rather than ban on non-essentials move- Pearl’s brutal murder sparked and hospital management [Israeli] occupation,” Shtayyeh requesting treatment but was return home. ments was imposed. revulsion across the globe. Observ- policies, experts said. told reporters. working in Israel illegally. After seeing the video, the On Wednesday, the Palestin- ers at the time said the killers were Coordinated action to seal An early issue was the 70,000 “Police escorted the man to 26-year-old said he was terri- ian Authority said 15 of its citi- acting out of revenge for Pakistan’s off a Covid-19 outbreak in the Palestinians with permits to the Maccabim security cross- fied he would contract the virus zens employed in settlements support of the US-led war on the West Bank city of Bethlehem work in Israel. ing,” a police spokesman said, and be brutally thrown out of had tested positive for the virus, hardline Islamic Taliban regime in was also praised. Last month, Israel and the stressing the individual had Israel. pointing the blame at Israeli Afghanistan and the al-Qaeda terror But on Wednesday, Palestin- Palestinian Authority agreed tested negative for Covid-19 “I prefer to stay and sleep here policies. network they harboured. ian Prime Minister Mohammed on a policy that sought to before being brought to the after seeing the painful scenes “Israel’s decision to allow the General Pervez Musharraf, who Shtayyeh accused Israel of limit population movements checkpoint. at the checkpoints,” he said. entry of workers is an attempt led Pakistan in 2002, had reversed undermining his government’s while allowing Palestinians to Tensions spiked further The Palestinian Authority has to protect the Israeli economy his country’s backing of the Taliban containment efforts by not remain employed. when officials revealed the limited autonomy in the West at the expense of the lives of our and provided the US military with stopping Palestinians from Workers were given 72 hours first Palestinian to die, a wom- Bank, which has been under workers,” Shtayyeh said. logistical support, intelligence and working in Israeli settlements. to decide if they would stay in an in her 60s, had been in Israeli occupation since 1967. “Israel’s economy is not as air corridors. He followed this up “What is required is for Israel Israel through the crisis or contact with her son who More than 400,000 Jewish set- precious as the lives of our chil- with a crackdown on Islamic mili- to leave us alone,” he said. return to the West Bank. works inside Israel. tlers live in the area in commu- dren.” AFP tants in his own country. AFP 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Asean

Farmers growing sesame in Vietnam’s Can Tho city earn much higher profits than rice cultivation in the dry season. AFP Rice farmers in Can Tho, Vietnam switch to high-value sesame AMONG measures to cope me is two to three times higher with drought and freshwater than rice, equivalent to 7.5 mil- shortage, the switch to sesame lion dong ($320) per hectare. crops in the dry season has With last year’s bumper har- Pangolin scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine, and the animal could have been a possible vector in the novel coronavirus making a leap provided rice farmers in Viet- vest summer-autumn crop to humans. AFP nam’s Can Tho city with higher and high selling prices, sesa- incomes in recent years. me farmers earned a profit of It is estimated that the city 50 million dong per hectare. has turned nearly 2,270ha The department said sesame M’sia in pangolin scale bust of rice fields into sesame in helps improve the soil’s fertil- the current summer-autumn ity and saves irrigation water, ALAYSIAN au- of the novel coronavirus from inside a container along with if the scales originally came crop, a year-on-year increase especially in the dry season. thorities seized animal to human at Huanan a shipment of cashew nuts, from Malaysia or elsewhere. of 1,713ha, said the city’s De- Rice rotated with sesame about six tonnes Market in China’s Wuhan city said customs department Malaysia is often used as a partment of Agriculture and also helps reduce diseases for of pangolin last year. chief Paddy Abdul Halim. transit point for smuggling Rural Development. the next rice crops. Mscales and smashed a smug- Its body parts fetch a high Officials said they had de- wildlife across the region. The sesame plant is mostly The city has more than gling syndicate, officials said price on the black market as tained two people for ques- Traffic, a group that moni- cultivated in Thot Not, O Mon, 9,280ha of rice fields that on Wednesday, as the coun- they are commonly used in tioning, and the operation tors animal trafficking, Co Do and Vinh Thanh dis- have been turned into bean try clamps down on rampant traditional Chinese medicine, had put a smuggling syndi- praised authorities for “pri- tricts. and vegetable cultivation and wildlife trafficking. although scientists say they cate out of operation. oritising wildlife even while Sesame is a short-day and short-term industrial plants The pangolin, the world’s have no therapeutic value. They could be jailed for up to countries are focused on drought-resistant plant. It this crop, up 2,490ha com- most heavily trafficked mam- The haul was found on three years if convicted of break- dealing with the coronavirus takes around 75 days before pared to last year’s summer- mal, is believed to have pos- Tuesday at a port outside the ing wildlife protection laws. pandemic”, spokeswoman being harvested. autumn crop. VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA sibly been a vector in the leap capital Kuala Lumpur, hidden It was not immediately clear Elizabeth John said. AFP The profit from planting sesa- NEWS NETWORK

Workers disinfect a train carriage following the death of a passenger who later tested positive for the Covid-19. STATE RAILWAY OF THAILAND/AFP Man with Covid-19 dies on Thai train A MAN found dead on a His body was found in front carrying a health certificate is- cent from a week ago – and passenger train in Thailand of a bathroom during the jour- sued by a doctor in Pakistan the death toll has more than has tested positive for the ney. Other passengers were on March 26, stating he did not tripled to 13. coronavirus, officials said on evacuated from the carriage have the virus and was fit to fly. The government has come Wednesday, as the country’s which was then disconnected A state of emergency that under criticism for not acting death toll from the conta- from the rest of the train and took effect last Wednesday quickly enough to curb the gion more than tripled from a disinfected by workers wear- barred entry into the king- spread of the virus. week ago. ing protective suits. dom except for diplomats Bangkok authorities an- The 57-year-old, who had A posthumous test showed and Thais. nounced on Wednesday that just returned from Pakistan he had Covid-19. Anyone arriving in the all city parks will be off-limits, and was travelling from Bang- The names of the 15 passen- country must have a health while convenience stores and kok to the southern province of gers who were seated in his certificate and spend 14 days food stalls will have to be closed Narathiwat, was seen “cough- carriage were passed to health in self-quarantine. between midnight and 5am. ing and vomiting” before authorities to track down. The number of infections But unlike neighbouring boarding the train on Monday, It is not clear when the man in Thailand has soared past Laos, there are still no orders for State Railway of Thailand said. returned to Thailand. He was 1,700 – up more than 60 per residents to stay at home. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion

Food warning must be heededwww.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNELable to get enough of the Opinion farming materials they need Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng Editorial for agricultural production? Ly Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Preparedness averts peril. It Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman ith people is undoubtedly important Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer around the and urgent for the leaders of Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith world under the world’s major countries Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff stay-at-home to pay more attention to Phak Seangly Worders to slow the spread of Deputy Chief of Staff maintaining agricultural pro- Business Editor Phak Seangly the novel coronavirus, there duction and safeguarding the May Kunmakara Business Editor are concerns about the effects global food supply chain. Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara on the international food sup- As far as food security in Sorn Sarath Deputy Business Editor ply chain. The all-out efforts China is concerned, there is Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk to prevent and control the Sorn Sarath no need for Chinese people Pan Simala spread of virus should not Deputy Head of Lifestyleto Desk worry about whether they Senior Reporters overshadow the necessity of Pan Simala will have enough food to eat Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng keeping the worldwide food Senior Reporters in the months to come. Chi- Reporters supply chain running as nor- Meas Sokchea, Niem Chhengna’s food grain output has Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long mally as possible. Reporters been more than 600 million Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Care must be taken to Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kimtonnes Sarom, forLong five consecutive ensure these measures do not Sovanny, Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hinyears Pisei, Soth since 2014 and a record disrupt the food supply chain, agricultural harvest has been Ry Sochan Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung which would have pro- achieved for 15 consecutive Photographers Sovanny, nounced consequences for the years. There are enough grain Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea Ry Sochan most vulnerable populations. reserves to support ample Web Editor That explains why the Photographers supply of food. Leang Phannara heads of the Food and Agri- Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea Since the novel coronavirus Webmasters culture Organisation, the Web Editor has been basically brought Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea World Health Organisation Leang Phannara under control in China, there SIEM REAP BUREAU and World Trade Organisa- Webmasters is no risk of agricultural pro- Offi ce Manager Care must be taken to ensure these measures do not disrupt the food supply chain, which would have tion have issued a joint state- duction being disrupted Sophearith Blondeel pronounced consequences for the most vulnerable populations. AFP Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea PRODUCTION & PRINTING ment calling for countries to SIEM REAP BUREAU because of the lack of agri- Head of Desktop Publishing ensure that their efforts to countries such as India and in many countries will be al production thisOffi ceyear. Manager cultural workers and supply Nhim Sokphyrak control the virus do not unin- Vietnam restricted exports of enough to see them through Are there enoughSophearith agricul- Blondeel of farming materials. Even so, tentionally create unwarrant- rice to ward off expected the pandemic, what is worry- tural workers given the due importance must be Desktop Publishing PRODUCTION & PRINTING ed shortages of essential price increases, causing riots ing is how much damage the restrictions that many coun- attached to agricultural pro- Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath Head of Desktop Publishing items and exacerbate hunger in some other developing current efforts many coun- tries have placed on people’s duction to ward off the possi- Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Nhim Sokphyrak and malnutrition. countries as prices soared tries have made in preventing movements and closure of ble impacts of disruptions on Desktop Publishing HEAD OFFICE The threat is real. After the due to a supply shortage. and controlling the spread of their borders? Will farmers in the global food supply chain. Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath global financial crisis in 2008, Even if the reserves of grain the virus will do to agricultur- grain producing countries be CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna

Post Media Co, Ltd. HEAD OFFICE The Elements Condominium Level 7, Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, Take steps to mitigate further business slump Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Post Media Co, Ltd. Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 BUSINESS sentiment has become have continued to be seen of sus- in hotel and restaurant industries.The Elements CondominiumFirst and Levelforemost, 7, it is urgent to Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 increasingly gloomy. The public and pended production and restrictions Should more non-regular workersHun Sen Boulevardcompile, Phum a Preksupplementary Talong, budget bill Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 private sectors should work together on going out in Europe and the US, have their contracts terminatedSangkat by Chakfor Angre fiscal Krom, 2020 Phnom and Penh, have it approved SIEM REAP to overcome the ongoing emergency and the full impact of those measures companies merely seeking to slashCambodia in the Diet. It remains unknown how No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune by prioritising the maintenance of is likely not reflected in the results. immediate costs, social unrest will SIEM REAP much time it will take to remedy the Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 employment. Further deterioration of business sen- likely spread. situation. The government should No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT The Bank of Japan released its timent will inevitably be seen. The government and financial prepare for a prolonged battle and Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 Tankan quarterly economic survey By industry, “accommodations, eat- institutions should extend such sup- take additional measures in an James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT for March. As infections with the new ing and drinking services” plummet- port as financing for companies and appropriate manner whenever Advertising Department Chief Operating Offi cer coronavirus continue to spread, the ed by 70 points, marking the worst small business owners who are faced deemed necessary. Chap Narith, 017 996 241 James Ong Soon Teck diffusion index, which indicates busi- level with minus 59. with a sharp decline in income, to The Japan Business Federation Hun Channet, 017 578 768 ness sentiment, plunged among both These figures can be said to corrob- curb an increase in bankruptciesAdvertising and Departmentstressed its policy in an emergency Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 large companies and small and mid- orate the significant impact caused unemployment. Chap Narith, proposal017 996 241 on economic measures to Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 size companies. by the self-imposed restraints on It has become worrisome that WestHun Channet,- work 017 578 toward 768 preserving employment. Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 Among large companies, the index going out implemented by many ern economies are being forced toPrach stall. Monnyreak, Regarding 012 123 7777 the hiring of new gradu- Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 for the manufacturing sector stood at more people and the decline in the In all likelihood, the blow to export CIRCULATION ates & DISTRIBUTION in particular, it stated: “We will CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION minus 8, down 8 points from the pre- number of foreign visitors. companies, including those of autoActing- Distributionmake Manager utmost efforts to avoid creating Acting Distribution Manager vious survey to hit the lowest level in In the category of “services for indi- mobiles, will intensify in the future.Thenh Rithy a second employment ice age gener- Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Circulation Supervisor seven years. For nonmanufacturing viduals”, which includes companies For example, seven major domestic ADMINISTRATION ation.” Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 companies, the index was an 8, down for entertainment facilities and tour- automakers have nearly 30,000 Adminclient & HR ManagerThere have been some moves to Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 by 12 points, the largest drop since ism, the index worsened by 31 points, companies, including subcontractorsPich Socheat cancel hiring and job offers. Compa- ADMINISTRATION the 22-point plunge in March 2009 and there was a 24-point plunge for and sub-subcontractors. FurtherAssistants tonies Admin with & HR Manager sound management Admin & HR Manager after the Lehman shock. “transport and postal activities”, deterioration in corporate sentimentNhel Soaphea strength should steadily implement For the latest Tankan, 70 per cent of which include airline companies. will affect plans for capital invest- the measures contained in the pro- Pich Socheat Financial Director Assistants to Admin & HR Manager the surveyed companies had respond- Non-regular employees account for ment and recruitment for a wide posal to the best of their capacity. THE Heang Tangmeng Nhel Soaphea ed by March 11. After that date cases three-quarters of the total workforce range of companies. YOMIURI SHIMBUN (JAPAN)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Chief Accountant Financial Director Sren Vicheka Heang Tangmeng Treasurers Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Treasurers Cheam Sopheak Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, IT Manager Cheam Sopheak Seng Nak, Vong Oun IT Manager

TO CONTACT US Seng Nak, Vong Oun [email protected] TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Food & Drink

Seng Hok Heng Catering Services, one of the largest catering companies in Cambodia still offers cuisine services for wedding receptions, parties and other gatherings, as well as grocery delivery. hEAN RANGSEY Seng Hok Heng will not let you go hungry

Hong Raksmey Heng is already recognised as one of the biggest catering T is wedding season in companies in Cambodia and Cambodia and that usual- can provide food catering for ly means people are com- any event including parties, plaining about endless wedding receptions and oth- Iinvitations. However, the Covid- er ceremonies. 19 pandemic has changed that, “Chefs from Seng Hok Heng and wedding plans have been are always paying attention delayed or cancelled to help to quality, especially prod- curb its spread. uct safety, high standards, Having been told to socially and easy and speedy service distance and avoid unneces- with responsibility. Our slo- sary travel, some people are gan is ‘customers are happy now nostalgic about the idea of and we are also happy’. sharing a table with friends and He said quality service enjoying ample food and vari- comes from the well-known ous hors d’oeuvres that come Seng Hok Heng chefs who with wedding receptions. are professionals and have Have no fear. You don’t have years of experience. to venture out on a nervous Ching Ming – the traditional trip to the grocery store for Chinese tomb-sweeping festi- the proper ingredients or have val – is an occasion the shows the culinary skills to prepare a how Cambodian-Chinese are proper wedding or party meal. celebrating in the Kingdom. That is where the chefs And now they don’t have to take come in – especially when it trips to the markets for food. comes to preparing healthy “For many occasions, in- dishes like black chicken soup cluding New Year, the Hun- or mixed vegetable soup with gry Ghost Festival and even freshwater lobster. this Qing Ming, we offer food While people are encouraged delivery to our customer’s to stay home, Seng Hok Heng door,” said Touch. Catering Services, one of the Delivery includes everything from chicken with cashew nuts to -style deep-fried bacon, roasted dried beef and marinated fish cake He said that the most popu- largest catering companies in as starters, and shark fin with crab soup, black chicken soup, river prawn mixed vegetable soup, fried rice and fried noodle with various meats, lar orders for these occasions including roasted goose, roasted duck and chicken. Even a whole roasted pig is listed for Hengmart delivery. HEAN RANGSEY Cambodia still offers cuisine are roasted goose, duck and services for wedding receptions, deep-fried bacon, roasted “In Cambodia, there is a “First, you just select any that can contract the virus. especially roasted pig (seven parties and other gatherings, as dried beef and marinated fish high demand for online de- items based on the pictures Ratha says: “From our prod- to 15kg). well as grocery delivery. cake as starters, and shark fin livery services,” says Ratha. on the Hengmart Facebook uct supplies to the customer’s In September last year, Starters to various mouth- with crab soup, black chicken One delighted fan of Heng- page. Then choose any prod- front door, we maintain the when Seng Hok Heng served watering main courses and soup, river prawn mixed vege- mart, Clara Nouth, recently uct – cuisines and grocer- cleanliness and hygiene to ambok with coconut juice, even Khmer desserts are of- table soup, fried rice and fried posted a few of its cuisines ies you want and tick on the ensure that our products are the Khmer traditional des- fered online from Seng Hok noodle with various meats, and her picture in an elevator products via edited pictures virus-free. sert, at a wedding reception, Heng. Delivery arrives hot including roasted goose, with some words expresses on your Facebook Messenger. “Having a reliable supply it went viral as the Khmer des- and quick. roasted duck and chicken. her feelings. “After that, you just send the chain of food and materials sert is never served in such a Its general manager Touch Even a whole roasted pig is “It’s convenient, speedy, pictures of the selected items is a number one concern for ceremony. Ratha tells The Post: “We listed for Hengmart delivery. tasty and hygienic. When- back to messenger along with a growing company like ours. Hengmart accepts orders launched Hengmart online in “Hengmart is serving Seng ever you want, you just ac- your phone number, time to We must ensure that all pur- from 6:30am to 7:30pm and March, and it is a brainchild of Hok Heng’s food and is recogn- cess Hengmart’s page,” Clara deliver, address, street num- chase orders are fulfilled and is located at #615, St. 2004, Seng Hok Heng. We sell packed ised for its standard tasty select- wrote on her Facebook page. ber and Google Map, and the final product is delivered Sangkat Kakap, Khan Pursan food and groceries in Phnom ed foods while maintaining a Ratha says people can ac- that’s it,” Ratha says. to customers. The delivery Chey, Phnom Penh. Penh with easy and fast delivery high quality of hygiene, product cess Hengmart’s Facebook Aside from the good service service works perfectly to en- For more details, visit its Fa- to our customers’ front doors.” safety and good price. Heng- page and place orders eas- and suitable price, many peo- sure social distancing.” cebook page www.facebook. Delivery includes every- mart is a newly established on- ily for fast delivery with high ple are concerned over main- He said although the Heng- com/Seng Hok Hengcater- thing from chicken with ca- line mart amid the outbreak of product safety, good service taining hygiene that keeps the mart shop just offers services ing or contact 089334555| shew nuts to Svay Rieng-style the Covid-19 pandemic. and a good price. products safe, especially items in Phnom Penh, Seng Hok 070999381 | 070999382. THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Stir crazy cuisinier serving up soup for health workers WHEN Belgium’s coronavirus days they had contacted lockdown order forced star their suppliers, notably a chef Isabelle Arpin to shut farm just outside the capital her fine dining establishment that employs handicapped she could have retired to the workers. kitchen to devise dishes for By March 21, their supplies bored gourmets. had been supplemented by Instead she decided to whip gifts from loyal customers, up tasty soups – smoked eel food banks that collect sur- and potato, asparagus and plus food, and unsold stocks liquorice, Thai red curry – for from the Carrefour and Metro hundreds of health workers supermarket chains. at one of Brussels’ busiest She chose a simple menu hospitals. because “soup is nourishing. “Good nourishing food, full It’s all but a meal in itself. It’s of vitamins, boost your mood quick and easy to eat”, Do- and your health” she declared, minika told AFP. “Watercress plunging her “bazooka” – a is rich in trace elements. It’s a powerful food mixer – into a vitamin bomb.” vat of watercress veloute. Today’s menu will be load- ‘Act of citizenship’ ed into 10 12L crates lined One day this week, Arpin with sacks designed to with- blended peppers, mush- Consumers in Canada are hitting stores like ‘in the weeks before Christmas’ as well as buying at peak levels online. AFP stand temperatures up to 80 rooms, courgettes, onions, degrees Celsius (175 F) and poultry, citronella and co- be loaded into an insulated conut milk into a red curry truck loaned by catering giant concoction that worked as Sodexo. another standalone meal for After a long day of lockdown, From the elegant open plan hungry nurses. restaurant on chic Avenue “I’m really not used to cook- Louise, they will be taken to ing for so many people, but on the Erasmus teaching hos- the other hand I’m discovering how ‘essential’ is a little drink? pital to feed 350 famished myself back at the base of our nurses and doctors battling profession, which is to sustain OME countries have In Canada – where legal can- buying at peak levels online, Experts also note that for the deadly pandemic. people,” she said through a banned alcohol, oth- nabis stores have also stayed said a spokesman for the So- people who are addicted, the It’s a change of pace for hygienic face mask. ers say liquor shops open – Quebec’s premier ciete des alcools du Quebec side effects of abrupt alcohol Arpin, more used to cooking Trained at the Dunkirk are essential services, Francois Legault justified the (SAQ) – a government corpo- withdrawal can include trem- up refined dishes at €80 ($87) cooking school in neighbour- andS one top official even sug- decision to keep alcohol sales ration which last year report- ors, insomnia and nausea. a head in a restaurant bearing ing France, the 50-something- gested a tipple after another flowing, a move welcomed by ed net earnings of C$1.146 This “could have serious com- her well-known name along year-old chef won a Michelin long day trapped at home can consumers but criticised by billion (US$811.4 million). plications, especially if the per- with a photo of her levitating star at her former restaurant be a necessary restorative. a trade union concerned for Nationwide, Paradis notes son is confined to their home, over a wheel of cheese. before launching her epony- The debate around alcohol shop workers. that closing stores selling al- it is very, very dangerous,” says When Belgium began shut- mous venture. and the coronavirus pandem- “To reduce the stress, you have cohol would cut off a signifi- Anne-Elizabeth Lapointe, di- ting down non-essential ser- “I’ve been living in Belgium ic touches on issues of health, to do some exercise, so have a cant source of government rector of the Addiction Pre- vices and large-scale pub- for more than 20 years. In a the economy, worker safety – walk – but sometimes a glass of revenue – estimated at about vention Centre in Montreal. lic gatherings on March 13, situation like this, without and whether for some a glass wine may help,” he said. C$411 annually per person. But even for the majority of the restaurant was forced to knowing how it’s going to go, of wine may indeed help cope Unlike much of the world, moderate alcohol consumers, close, but Arpin and restau- you have to help the society with the stress of seeing their Canadians are not under of- Sauna, then vodka? closing liquor stores could lead rant manager Dominika had you’re living in. It’s an act of lives upended in the space of ficial lockdown, but they have On the other side of the bor- to increased anxiety and stress. other plans. citizenship,” she said. weeks. been urged to stay home and der, New York, the epicentre Since the start of the epi- They would become ca- At Erasmus, staff are grate- Police in South Africa are practice social distancing – of the epidemic in the US, has demic, alcohol has served terers, but as Dominika ex- ful for the twice weekly treat. brutally enforcing a ban on and that has been enough to also placed wine and spirits other purposes too. plained: “We weren’t going to Head of pathology Isabelle all alcohol sales during the send alcohol sales soaring. stores on the list of “essential” In France, where wine mer- use up masks that could have Salmon sighs: “What a joy to shutdown. “Everyone feels like it is Fri- businesses. chants remain open, Pernod gone to health care workers, be able to take a breather, with But in North America and day or Saturday all the time,” The New York State Liquor Ricard and Bacardi were also just to produce trays of vol aux the team, and take a trip to much of Europe, alcohol said Catherine Paradis, an ana- Stores Association confirms among the first beverage gi- vents,” a chicken pastry dish. Thailand with the smell of an- stores remain open, and busy lyst at the Canadian Centre on that sales have increased sig- ants to convert part of their A plan formed to help out ise and cress, amid the brutal – often protected under the Addictions and Substance Use. nificantly. production into alcohol- Erasmus and within a few and harsh daily grind. AFP same regulations that allow Consumers are hitting “In a way, we are helping based hand sanitiser gel. business such as supermar- stores like “in the weeks be- the economy,” president Ste- In Poland meanwhile, al- kets or pharmacies to operate. fore Christmas” as well as fan Kalogridis told AFP. most half a million litres of contraband vodka and illegal- ly-produced pure alcohol have been used as a disinfectant in- stead of being destroyed. Belarusian President Alexan- der Lukashenko has even rec- ommended drinking a 100mL glass of vodka after going to the sauna – as a spurious miracle remedy for coronavirus. At the other end of the spec- trum Hong Kong chief execu- tive Carrie Lam has banned all restaurants and bars from serving alcohol – arguing that easy access could harm social distancing. “Sometimes people get a bit intimate when they are drunk, and this will raise the risk of infection,” she said. Addiction specialist Paradis points out that domestic vio- lence under the lockdown and mounting stress linked to ex- cessive alcohol consumption is perhaps a more serious risk. To limit the risk, Greenland Hong Kong executive Carrie Lam has banned all restaurants and bars from serving alcohol – arguing that has temporarily banned sales Michelin-starred chef Isabelle Arpin cooks for hundreds of health easy access could harm social distancing. AFP in its capital Nuuk. AFP workers at one of Brussels’ busiest hospitals. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com

Thinking caps

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ACROSS 51 Al of “An Inconvenient Truth” 10 Kimono-clad 1 Old drum accompanied by a fife 52 Big name in cash machines 11 Operating at maximum 6 Visibly shocked 53 Is quite active, like a city street 12 Poke fun 11 “___ your move” 56 Riot queller 13 Carbonated drinks 14 Battery terminal 58 Burning briquet, eventually 18 Soak up again, as liquid 15 Missionary’s target 59 A way to get it down 23 Confused situation 16 Keanu in “The Matrix” 60 Dumbstruck reaction 24 “Congratulations!” 17 Needing fixing 61 Musical hint, say 25 “Briefly ...” 19 The “Macarena” dance was one 62 Sad and moping 26 Bear that isn’t really a bear 20 4 x 4, briefly 68 Ripken of the diamond 28 Chum, for one 31 Tossed with force 21 Words that make two one? 69 United ___ College Fund 35 In-group lingo 22 Land north of Mexico 70 Like freakish coincidences 37 Around, in a date 23 Burglar’s accessory 71 “The Sum of ___ Fears” 38 The Australian flag has six 27 Takes little bites 72 “The ___ White Hope” 40 “Blast!” 29 Mother Teresa, for one 73 How some jokes are delivered 42 Chest of drawers 30 Eave locale DOWN 45 Good bit of kennel noises 32 “Hud” Oscar winner 1 Word before “chi” and after “mai” 47 Marine growth 33 “Bleak House” girl 2 Author Coulter 50 One-pointer in horseshoes 34 Happy-go-lucky song part 3 Physique, for short 53 Any grape, cranberry, etc. 36 Frisbees, e.g. 4 Intense dislike 54 Ordinary 39 Like some farewells 5 Result of jumping the gun 6 “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” 55 Play ground? 41 Book-jacket item 57 Direct attention elsewhere 43 Buffoon character 7 Dental problem corrected by 63 Article under a blouse 44 Shylock’s crime 64 Realtor’s offering 46 Black ___ (cattle breed) braces 8 For the second time 65 Geller the paranormal showman 48 Roth nest egg 9 Contributed money to join 66 None whatsoever 49 1.3-ounce Asian weight 67 Something to play in Thursday’s solution

Thursday’s solution THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Wimbledon cancelled for first time since World War II oger Federer and pointment. Serena Williams “So sad to hear @Wimble- were among the don won’t take place this tennis stars left year,” she said. devastatedR on Wednesday as “Last year’s final will forever Wimbledon was cancelled for be one of the happiest days the first time since World War of my life! But we are going II due to the coronavirus. through something bigger The cancellation of the old- than tennis and Wimble- est Grand Slam tournament don will be back! And it at London’s All England Club means I have even lon- leaves the season in disar- ger to look forward to ray, with no tennis set to be defending my title.” played until mid-July. Two-time Wimbledon “Devastated,” tweeted champion Andy Murray eight-time champion Feder- (pictured) added: “Very er, while Serena, who has won sad that Wimbledon has the tournament seven times, been cancelled this year said she was shocked by the but with all that is going on momentous decision. in the world right now, every- Wimbledon was due to one’s health is definitely The 2020 Wimbledon Championships has been run for two weeks from June the most important swing in the cancelled for the first time since World War II 29, with Novak Djokovic and thing!” build-up to the tour- due to the coronavirus pandemic. AFP Simona Halep set to defend The decision to nament, meaning the tennis cham- their singles titles. cancel Wimble- season will not now restart pion, said But tournament chiefs don was widely until July 13 at the earliest. cancelling the bowed to the inevitable on expected, with The US Tennis Association tournament was Wednesday, saying in a state- the world strug- said it was sticking to its Au- the only option in ment that they had made the gling to contain gust 31 to September 13 dates the circumstances. decision with “great regret”. the spread of for the US Open in New York. “I fully understand US tennis chiefs responded Covid-19, which “At this time the USTA still and support the decision by saying the US Open, due has claimed more plans to host the US Open as of the committee and it is to finish a week before the than 43,000 lives scheduled, and we continue to vital we keep our focus on controversially rearranged and infected more hone plans to stage the tourna- those most impacted by this French Open, was still due to than 860,000 peo- ment,” it said in a statement. pandemic,” she said. take place as planned. ple, according to an “The USTA is carefully “I have been fortunate to All England Club chairman AFP tally. monitoring the rapidly go to Wimbledon every year Ian Hewitt said the decision changing environment since 1961 and I am certainly to cancel Wimbledon had not ‘I’m going to miss it’ surrounding the going to miss it this year.” been taken lightly. Organisers had The cancellation could ling Margaret Court’s record. “It has weighed heavily on earlier ruled out play- mean multiple champions Tennis has endured a tor- our minds that the staging of ing the event behind Federer, Serena Williams and rid time in recent weeks with The Championships has only closed doors while Venus Williams have played the entire European claycourt been interrupted previously postponing it would at the All England Club for season wiped out. by world wars. also have created its the final time. The French Tennis Fed- “But, following thorough own problems, with Covid-19 Federer and Serena will eration provoked widespread and extensive consideration of shorter days later pandemic, be nearly 40 by the time anger with its unilateral deci- all scenarios, we believe that it in the English and is prepar- of the 2021 champion- sion to move the French Open is a measure of this global cri- summer. ing for all con- ships and Venus will be 41. from its original May 24 start sis that it is ultimately the right The ATP and tingencies.” Serena, beaten in last year’s date to begin on September decision to cancel this year’s WTA have also US legend Billie- final by Halep, is stuck on 23 20 – one week after the con- Championships,” Hewitt said. cancelled the Jean King, a six-time Wim- Grand Slam singles titles – ago- clusion of the US Open in Halep tweeted her disap- grass-court bledon women’s singles nisingly one away from equal- New York. AFP Khabib says won’t fight in UFC 249 Le Tour doubts, UCI Mixed martial arts star Khabib put in place to combat the extending shutdown Nurmagomedov on Wednes- Covid-19 pandemic. day said he would not take part The UFC had still not dis- Cycling’s shutdown was “For now the Tour de France in an Ultimate Fighting Cham- closed a venue for the Khabib- extended until June on Wednes- dates remain the same,” Prud- pionship (UFC) card scheduled Ferguson fight, but president day due to the coronavirus pan- momme told AFP. for April 18, saying he was not Dana White has spoken of his demic, meaning French one- “The most important word prepared to travel amid the determination to organise the week stage race the Criterium in the Tour de France is coronavirus pandemic. card. du Dauphine will be postponed, ‘France’.” Lightweight champion Nur- Reports have said the fights organisers announced. International Cycling Union magomedov was due to have were expected to go ahead However, the Tour de France, (UCI) president David Lappar- headlined the UFC 249 event without fans. due to start in Nice on June 27, tient made the announcement in a bout against Tony Fergu- White said in an interview remains on schedule. of the extended suspension on son but said in a post on Insta- last week he wanted the fight The Criterium was to have Wednesday. gram he was not willing to leave to go ahead to try and restore started in Clermont Ferrand The UCI says it is preparing Russia for the fight. “some normalcy” to US sport, on May 31, while the only a new potential calendar tak- “I understand everything and which has been locked down remaining key Tour de France ing into account different sce- I’m definitely upset more than since the coronavirus pandem- warm-up race not yet post- narios and will present it in the you to cancel the fight, probably ic erupted. poned is the Tour de Suisse. coming weeks. like all others, I had many plans “I’m gonna try to pull off Tony The Criterium is organised Last season, the Criterium after the fight, but I can’t control vs Khabib on April 18 and try to by Amoury Sports Organisa- du Dauphine was won by it all,” Nurmagomedov wrote. get some normalcy back into tion (ASO) who run the Tour Jakob Fuglsang. AFP The UFC has already post- this country,” White said. de France. poned three events after offi- “I have four or five locations “The priority is the health of www.phnompenhpost.com cials were unable to find venues right now. We’re getting this the nation,” insisted ASO presi- check the post website Mixed martial arts star Khabib Nurmagomedov on Wednesday said he for breaking news was not willing to leave Russia for the UFC 249 event. GETTY IMAGES/AFP to stage bouts amid restrictions deal done. AFP dent Christian Prudhomme. 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST april 3, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Caddies in the rough as virus halts potential branding deals ADDIES are golf’s from June 4-7, for a possible unsung heroes but resumption of the season. they will never earn “At the moment with the the riches made by stoppage those chaps who someC of the players and many caddied for golfers who were will struggle during the Euro- successful last year and those pean Tour suspension caused who started the season well by the coronavirus pandemic, will be alright,” said Russell, their chairman says. from his home in Newcastle, The pandemic has also northeast England. brought a halt to conversa- “But for the others they still tions that Sean Russell and have to pay the mortgages, Caddies are generally paid £1,000 ($1,200) per week by the golfer, which can usually be topped up by 10 per cent of the prize money earned in a tournament. Travel and hotel expenses then have to be deducted. GETTY IMAGES/AFP his association were having put food on the table and with prospective sponsors there are bills to be paid. Russell admitted that al- after he negotiated a ground- He said the announcement though caddies’ work is fi- breaking agreement with the by Britain’s finance minister nancially precarious, they European Tour. last week that the government could at least look forward to “There is zero job security,” will cover a percentage of self- a resumption of the season Russell told AFP. “There is no employed people’s earnings at some point whereas other contract. Some caddies have was good news “but it will still people will be financially ru- been sacked the week after a take a couple of months for ined by the crisis. player has won a tournament. those measures to come in”. This is why the 55-year-old “It is not like a normal job.” former civil servant, who be- His members – over 150 ‘Not a sob story’ gan on the European Tour in active professional caddies Russell said members were 2010, says caddies will not be – can from this season earn having to find part-time whining about their lot. more money through brand- jobs, even those who would “Yes we are affected by the ing on their caps or clothing normally earn extra money coronavirus but ours is not and in other ways too. alongside their caddying a sob story because golf will Caddies are generally paid by working at exclusive golf resume,” said Russell, who £1,000 ($1,200) per week by the clubs. Those clubs are now works for French golfer Jean- golfer, which can usually be closed because of the social Baptiste Gonnet. topped up by 10 per cent of the distancing measures. “But the guy who has the Ben Crane (right) and one of his caddies wave down the 11th hole to call for a rules official on the 11th green prize money earned in a tourna- “Some are having to do jobs small business into which he’s during the second round of the 2019 Puerto Rico Open. GETTY IMAGES/AFP ment. Travel and hotel expenses they would not normally be sunk his life savings, whose potential branding deals. For Russell, though, the pri- is to help the one whose golf- then have to be deducted. expecting to do at this time of component deliveries from Russell’s association have ority is those already strug- er finished 157th. The schedule has been year to make ends meet just China have dried up, whose created the @thetourcaddies gling whose plight has been “I researched what he heavily disrupted with 12 Eu- about,” he said. customers go elsewhere and media brand which he says worsened by the pandemic. earned and it would have been ropean Tour tournaments – “One lad I heard is deliver- don’t return – that’s the guy will be used “to generate rev- “When I was discussing €12,000 [$13,000] in bonuses. including masters and World ing parcels. who won’t have a business to enue for caddies”. with the Tour last year about “On that he would virtually Golf Championship events – “It is not unusual in the off- go back to when this is all over. His goal is to be able to offer this agreement I said this is be better off working in Sains- postponed or cancelled. season for some caddies to work “We will still have ours.” the members “income pro- not about helping the caddy bury’s [a supermarket]. Caddies are now eyeing the for Amazon or as taxi drivers. The caddies hope that also tection plans, pension advice who was with the golfer who “However, there is not a single Trophee Hassan II, scheduled “However, as we say, being a awaiting them will be the chance and advice that is specific to finished seventh on the Race guy among our members who to be held in Rabat, Morocco caddy is a ‘lifestyle not a job’.” to earn more money through their country”. to Dubai ranking last year. It would want to do that.” AFP Indian cricketers roasted for Pakistan virus fund support

INDIAN cricketers Yuvraj two, Indian Twitter users react- always bleed blue and will Singh and Harbhajan Singh ed with fury at the support for always stand for humanity.” have unleashed a social media a rival player who has been a India and Pakistan have not storm by backing former Paki- vocal critic of India’s handling played a bilateral cricket series stan captain Shahid Afridi’s of the Kashmir dispute. since 2012-2013 and have seen foundation in its fight against “Do you have any sense?” a new peak in tensions over the coronavirus pandemic. wrote one Twitter user. “Lost Kashmir, which has been at The two countries are bitter respect” for Harbhajan Singh, the centre of two wars between rivals and the move touched a added another. “Sorry guys the neighbours since 1947. raw nerve in India. you lost it.” Kashmir has been divided Afridi’s appeal for donations World Cup-winning bats- between the two since their to help people affected by the man Yuvraj, who made a return independence seven decades deadly virus in Pakistan has from cancer before finally ago and India frequently had overwhelming support retiring last year, hit back at his accuses Pakistan of organising from leading cricketers. trolls with a message. “terrorism” on its side of the Harbhajan urged people to “I really don’t understand border. contribute in a video message, how a message to help the The 38-year-old Yuvraj has and called on other cricketers most vulnerable gets blown also raised money to fight in the two countries to make out of proportion!” he wrote. coronavirus through his ‘You- similar appeals. “All I tried to achieve via that WeCan’ foundation. “These are testing times, it’s message was to help people in India, which has been under time to look out for each oth- our respective countries by a 21-day lockdown since er,” Yuvraj wrote on Twitter in providing healthcare, my inten- March 24, has so far confirmed Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh (centre) urged people to contribute to former Pakistan captain Shahid a call for funds. tion was not to hurt anyone’s more than 1,600 coronavirus Afridi’s foundation in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. AFP While Afridi thanked the feelings. I’m an Indian and will cases and 38 deaths. AFP