tuesday, february 9, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3602 / 4000 RIEL PM: Ignore critics, focus on progress Niem Chheng questions by journalists during a press saying the country’s population of 16 in prisons or running away from their conference at Phnom Penh Interna- million need him to maintain peace homeland. Those who suffer are trou- PRIME Minister Hun Sen on February 7 tional Airport, where he was on-hand and political stability because social de- blemakers, so let them suffer,” he said. said he regards his critics – especially to receive the first 600,000 doses of the velopment through economic growth The prime minister also urged his those sceptical of his acceptance of Chi- Sinopharm vaccine donated by China. and poverty alleviation must continue. followers not to mention those crit- na-donated vaccines – as vicious dogs. The prime minister also instructed “A small number of people are not ics’ names on TV or social media and Without naming names, Hun Sen his officials to refrain from respond- happy. Let [them] be unhappy because instead speak about his efforts in prime minister: said he would therefore refrain from ing to the critics. He stressed that the in this world there are happy and un- containing Covid-19, preventing road responding to them and from speak- instructions mean that the door to happy people. The important question accidents, reviving the economy, al- journalists a ing with any foreign embassies who negotiations is now closed. to ask is, are there more happy people leviating poverty, carrying out state sought to mediate. Hun Sen pointed out that what wor- than unhappy ones, or vice versa? priority group The remarks came in response to ries him most is the public’s happiness, “Cambodia has very few people locked Continued – page 3 for Covid jabs national – page 3 Floods kill 18 in India as glacier breaks up EIGHTEEN people were confirmed dead and at least 200 others were miss- Major survey ing after a devastating flash flood in India thought to of cambodian have been caused by a chunk of glacier breaking agriculture off on February 8. The resulting wall of water sector issued and debris barrelled down business – page 6 a tight valley in India’s Hi- malayan north on Sunday morning, destroying bridg- es, roads and hitting two hy- droelectric power plants. “There was a cloud of dust as the water went by. The ground shook like an earth- quake,” local inhabitant Om Agarwal told Indian TV. The Uttarakhand state government said that 18 bodies have been recov- ered, and chief minister Russia rejects Trivendra Singh Rawat said Justice is pink at least 200 people were constructive still unaccounted for. A protester dressed as Lady Justice chants slogans before a pink Israeli flag as she takes part in a demonstration outside the Jerusalem district court while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a hearing in his corruption trial on Monday. AFP Most of those missing dialogue with were working at the two power plants. Some were EU, Borrell says trapped in two tunnels cut WORLD – Page 10 off by the floods and by mud and rocks. “If this incident hap- pened in the evening, after Skyrocketing shipping work hours, the situation wouldn’t have been this bad as labourers and workers in and around the work sites would have been at home,” costs threaten exports Rawat told reporters. Twelve people were res- Hin Pisei transporting goods to interna- containers in all countries are According to Sokheang, the cued from one of the tun- tional markets has risen steadi- in short supply and high in average cost of chartering a nels on Sunday but 25-35 HE Kingdom’s exporters ly since the Covid-19 outbreak, price,” Sokheang said, adding 20-foot container from the more were still trapped in Women dragon have expressed deep- it has gained significant mo- that Thailand and Vietnam Kingdom to Europe rocketed the second one, state disas- ening concerns about mentum since November. are also feeling the pinch, but from $1,250 in November to ter relief official Piyoosh Ra- dancers scale spiralling shipping He said shipping lines blame seemingly to a lesser extent. nearly $3,000 now. utela said. costs,T which could diminish this the price hike on Chinese firms “The cost of shipping goods He said the surge in inter- With the main road up ambitions year’s trade figures if prolonged. stockpiling containers for ex- from Cambodian ports to national shipping costs had washed away, paramilitary Cambodia Rice Federation port to major destinations – es- those in other countries has become a major hurdle cir- rescuers had to scale down in VN’s Can tho (CRF) vice-president Chan pecially the US – leaving a glob- increased two- or three-fold cumscribing the prospects of a hillside on ropes to reach Sokheang told The Post on Feb- al shortage of the receptacles. when compared to before lifestyle – page 13 ruary 8 that while the cost of “This is the main reason why November 2020,” he said. Continued – page 6 Continued – page 10

THE PHNOM PENH POST Roundtable considers US National chief Biden’s foreign policy Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com National No charges against five forest activists nabbed in Prey Lang

Voun Dara ministry, they cannot do any further activities as an organi- THE Kratie Provincial Court sation,” Sokunthea said. on February 8 released five All five agreed to these con- detained forest activists who ditions, which secured their had been arrested on Febru- release without the court filing ary 5 for illegally trespassing in any criminal charges, he said. a protected area, according to Soeung Sen Karuna, the deputy prosecutor Sor Vuthy. senior investigator for local The five forest activists are rights group Adhoc, said the Ouch Leng, Heng Sros, Man Mat, provincial court finished their Heng Ron and Tang Cheang. interrogation and released Leng was the winner of the the five activists at around 2016 Goldman Prize for the 9:45am on February 8. Environment and he is the “According to my inquiries, director of the Cambodian the five forest activists were Human Rights Task Force – a given a contract by the court group that officials claimed to ban them from further for- was not properly registered est protection activities and with the Ministry of Interior. to register their organisation Overloaded trucks being inspected by authorities in Kampong Cham province in November last year. Public works Ministry “The court has released the with the interior ministry. five forest activists without “But what the five have charges,” Vuthy said. been working on is protecting Sam Sokunthea, the Li- forest in the name of activists Ministry inspections reveal cadho lawyer representing and citizens only,” he said. the forest activists, said the Provincial environment five were released after the department officers arrested provincial court and environ- the activists after they and quarter of lorries overloaded ment department made them about five other community sign two letters promising not members had campaigned to Lay Samean is a regular person or a pow- roadways to ensure that they the results as positive, though to repeat their action. protect the forest by planting erful individual. Those who remain in good condition. progress remains to be made. “My clients were asked by the trees and hanging signs on VER the course of we catch, we fine and possi- Road safety expert Kong Ra- He added that the ministry environment department to trees to discourage logging in last year, the Ministry bly impound their vehicle. tanak agreed that the drop in did not encourage the over- sign a letter agreeing not to en- Prey Lang in Sambor district’ of Public Works and “We advise drivers that the the ratio of overloaded lorries loading of vehicles, but some ter the prohibited area of Prey Kampong Cham commune. Transport inspected law dictates fines for loads indicated officials’ efforts to opportunistic traders paid Lang without permission. The Provincial environment overO two million vehicles, citing less than five tonnes over the better enforce the law. bribes to officials to let their prosecutor also asked them to department director Duong over 580,000 for being over- limit and impound for ve- “It shows that the ministry is overloaded vehicles bypass sign a letter saying that if they Chhay Savuth declined to loaded and impounding 17. hicles more than five tonnes not silent – it is actively work- legal restrictions. don’t register with the interior comment. A total of 2,109,330 vehicles overloaded. As a result, driv- ing on the issue. This report The ministry’s report noted were inspected last year, of ers are afraid to overload their cannot be our only measure- that vehicles overloaded by which 586,103 were overload- vehicles and reduce their ment, however. The number less than five per cent amount- ed, amounting to 27.79 per loads,” Chandara said. of vehicles increases every ed to 582,814, and vehicles cent, a slight decrease of 0.97 “Whether it’s transporting year. Overloading is some- overloaded between five and per cent from 2019’s 28.76 per goods or sand, people seem thing we should prevent to 10 per cent totalled 79; 2,166 cent, according to a report inclined to overload lorries if avoid damaging roads which vehicles were between 10 and from the ministry’s Perma- they think they can get away can also help prevent traffic 20 per cent over capacity while nent Axle Overload Control with it. Our roads are built accidents,” he said. another 1,044 were more than Committee (PAOCC) released to standards – for example, a He also urged authorities to 20 per cents overloaded. at a year-end review meeting. road can support a load of 30 enforce the law more effec- Meanwhile, the PAOCC is Ministry spokesman Pal tonnes, but some people have tively by eliminating the cor- preparing to open two new Chandara told The Post that attempted to transport up to ruption among some officials weighing stations – one on the decrease in the ratio of 80 tonnes which damages the who harm the public interest the second ring road on the overloaded vehicles was due to road,” he explained. by siphoning funds. outskirts of the capital and strict law enforcement by offi- He added that the ministry Rattanak cited official sta- another in Kratie province. cials without any exception. consistently calls on trans- tistics indicating that road The PAOCC will construct ad- “We take legal action, re- porters to obey the law and be deaths and accidents de- ditional stations in the near gardless of whether the driver mindful of the safe limits of clined last year, describing future. The five forest activists in civilian clothes. supplied THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Journos a priority group for jabs Hun Sen: No reason Mom Kunthear to talk with foreigners RIME Minister Hun Sen has designated over Kingdom’s affairs journalists as a prior- ity group for vaccina- Continued from page 1 waiting until February 31 to tionP against Covid-19. be inoculated with the Chi- Speaking at a press confer- reforms and combating cor- nese vaccine. ence following the arrival of ruption in society. And in an emailed response 600,000 doses of Covid-19 vac- “But [critics] have to un- to The Post for further com- cines donated by China on the derstand this clearly – once ment on February 8, Rainsy evening of February 7, Hun [I] stop talking, let alone re- said: “[Hun Sen’s] reaction Sen said journalists are a high- sponding, even if an embas- shows his shame for not dar- risk group because they are sy representative comes to ing to take the possibly dan- required to travel about fre- speak with me about them, gerous Chinese vaccine and quently and interact with the I won’t reply, I won’t speak his fear for the vibrant CNRP public in order to cover news with them. which enjoys strong national throughout the country. “Some might suggest that and international support.” “So, I would like all journal- foreigners step in to mediate, US-based political analyst ists up to the age of 59 to come but let me make it clear that James Sok said Hun Sen had and get vaccinated against I don’t have a reason to speak used the words “vicious dogs” Covid-19 by registering their with [foreigners] on Cambo- in likely reference to opposi- names online and [the Min- dian matters,” he said. tion leaders who are always istry of Health] will look into At the conclusion of the opposed to the government. Journalists on duty at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court last year. HENG CHIVOAN the additional [health] re- press conference, Hun Sen “By saying he would not quirements [to determine] priority group to be vaccinated Sam Sarorn also commended the four locations where vac- stated: “My mother once told speak with foreigners who who can or cannot receive against Covid-19,” he said. the government for the move, cinations will take place. me that if they insult us, we want to discuss political this vaccine,” he said. He called on all journalists but said he had yet to decide The press release said the can sleep soundly at night. matters relating to the op- The prime minister also re- who meet the requirements whether to get vaccinated. Inter-Ministerial Committee to But if we insult them, we position, [Hun Sen] sent a quested that the health ministry mandated by the health min- “I like that as a prime min- Combat Covid-19 would prepare a won’t ever get a good night’s message that there is no use work with the Ministry of Infor- istry to register for vaccina- ister he thinks of journalists, programme for inoculating se- sleep. That is the truth. responding to those who mation to facilitate the matter. tion without delay. especially those on the front nior officials aged 18-59 against “I used to talk back [to my would stop at nothing to But he noted that it would be Cambodian Journalists Al- line who go out and cover the Covid-19 on a voluntary basis. critics] but it never did me criticise the government and better if journalists get it done liance Association (CamboJa) news. But as the government’s “Vaccination will take place any good. Now my strategy is constantly inflate the situ- through their employers along executive director Nop Vy ap- head, [Hun Sen] should only starting February 10 at four lo- to refuse to engage with them ations, from donations for with the health ministry directly. plauded the move. offer vaccines that are proven cations. Calmette Hospital is for and not talking back – in this flood victims to the public’s Union of Journalist Fed- “This is a welcome expres- to work. He should choose to public figures – senior ministers, case – it says a whole lot. contribution to vaccine pur- erations of Cambodia (UJFC) sion of concern for the safety receive only vaccines that are ministers, secretaries of state “Please stay tuned for chase and now vaccination president Huy Vannak told of journalists. CamboJa will highly effective,” he said. and those of equivalent rank. further drama. Don’t be against Covid-19,” he said. The Post on February 8 that continue to cooperate with Sarorn said he was reluctant “Preah Ang Duong Hospi- ashamed. We’ve repeatedly Political analyst Lao Mong the prime minister recognised relevant ministries and insti- to get vaccinated because the tal is for undersecretaries of exchanged insults in the Hay said that since Hun Sen the important role of journal- tutions to provide informa- Sinopharm vaccine donated state and those of equivalent past, but now let them in- cannot control Sam Rainsy ists, and this will serve as a big tion to our members so that by China has not yet been ap- rank,” he said. sult us without us giving any or his mouth, the prime min- encouragement to all those those eligible may take ad- proved by the World Health He added that capital and reply. So, various foreigners ister is therefore wise to be working in the media sector. vantage of the offer,” he said. Organisation. He says it is not provincial governors will be will have to figure out that indifferent to him and his ac- “I applaud the decision on be- Vy noted however that he yet fully known how effective inoculated at Khmer-Soviet because they have insulted tivities and to let the people half of all of the journalists who would let CamboJa members or safe the vaccine is. Friendship Hospital, and the us too much, we’ve stopped judge them both by their ac- will receive this gift from Sam- decide whether to get vaccinat- Meanwhile, health minis- fourth place – the National speaking to them, too. That’s tions and accomplishments. dech Prime Minister and we ed or not on a voluntary basis as ter Mam Bun Heng issued a Pediatric Hospital – will be all for that,” he said. “The way things are in the sincerely thank him for allow- it was a personal health decision. press release on February 8 the site where journalists re- In a Facebook post on country – now and for the ing some journalists to join the First News website editor announcing a schedule for ceive vaccinations. February 5, Sam Rainsy foreseeable future, it is highly – former president of the doubtful Sam Rainsy can ever Supreme Court-dissolved return to contest any election Cambodia National Rescue in person. Considering his Party (CNRP) who faces a current stature as a political Forum mulls Biden’s foreign policy slew of outstanding court force to be reckoned with, cases and is living in self- Sam Rainsy doesn’t need to Niem Chheng must strengthen its economy exile abroad – said without return in person, though, to and local politics. If Cambodia elaborating that Hun Sen is do so,” he said. CAMBODIAN political ana- is not independent, its neutral lysts have said that no matter foreign policy will not work. what direction US President “I pray that the US and West- Joe Biden’s foreign policy ern countries come to invest in goes, the Kingdom must look Cambodia. Then they would Massive haul of drugs after its own interests while it not talk about democracy stands between superpowers, here because their companies the US and China. Further- would be here, too,” he said. confiscated by navy on more, the country’s politi- Pen Bona, president of the cians should not dwell exces- Club of Cambodian Journal- Preah Sihanouk island sively on foreign criticisms. ists and editor-in-chief for Analysts expressed their views the television station PNN, Khouth Sophak Chakrya Authority for Combating on what the world can expect said Cambodia should pri- Drugs (NACD), told The Post from the new US president dur- oritise its own development. MORE than 460 kg of illegal that test results indicated that ing a roundtable discussion or- Cambodians of all political drugs were found and con- the drugs were ketamine. ganised by the Royal Academy leanings should not favour fiscated by naval forces of the “These kinds of drugs are of Cambodia on February 8. Roundtable discussion on the Joe Biden administration at the Royal China or the US, but should Front Line Maritime Security mostly imported by criminals Social analyst Meas Nee said Acadamy of Cambodia on Monday. HONG MENEA instead look at the directions Command in a forest on Koh from Taiwan via the sea to Cambodia may hold fast to in which those countries are Polowai in Koh Rong Sanloem evade the authorities,” he said. its positions only when it has Geological expert Jean- dia and the first to provide moving and capitalise on op- commune of Preah Sihanouk According to Chito, in the the capacity to face and work Francois Tain said Cambodia development assistance portunities brought by align- province’s Koh Rong town. past, anti-drug police have with the superpowers. Lead- is currently returning to a pol- grants. China lends the most ing interests. This would also Tea Sokha, deputy Navy busted drug smugglers five ers must not be led to attack icy of neutrality as it did dur- to Cambodia and helps build help the Kingdom avoid un- commander and commander times in the waters off the one superpower by represen- ing the period from 1953 to infrastructure. Why should we foreseeable risks, he opined. of the Front Line Command southern coast, and in each tatives of the other. Cambodia 1970. He described Cambodia push China away?” he said. “Politicians should over- of the National Committee of those busts, the amount should look to examine issues as having fallen under the in- “Developing a nation is one look some issues that appear for Maritime Security (NCMS) of drugs confiscated was not and solve them cooperatively. fluence of theU S from 1970 to thing, and maintaining a pol- to interfere with the sover- General Secretariat, told The less than 100kg while the “In the past, we lost our 1975 and the influence of Chi- icy of neutrality is another. If eignty or internal interests Post that the drugs were dis- suspects arrested had mostly land until it became what na from 1975 to 1979, followed we open our arms to Western of the nation. Of course, one covered and seized on the been Taiwanese. we have today. If we follow by that of the Soviet Union countries like the US and EU, must stand up to opponents, evening of February 6 during Chito said an investigation our old historical norms, our from 1979 to 1989. Neutrality, but they don’t return the ges- but we needn’t overreact with naval patrols. was ongoing to determine small country will encounter he stressed, is only a theory. ture, what can we do? We tell regard to national interests. “The drugs weighed 465 kg who smuggled these drugs and further dangers,” Nee said. “Cambodia must see where them that our foreign policy “I appeal to the public on in total. It is likely they were dumped them on Koh Polowai Puy Kea, a news agency cor- its national interests are. I is neutral, and we desperately all sides of the political spec- dumped in that area,” he said. – and who was intended to re- respondent, said the US and don’t agree that we should need development. We can- trum – we need to push de- Sokha said the haul was ceive them – in order to bring EU see Cambodia as leaning push China away. If not for not stand to see neighbouring velopment forward to avoid brought to the NCMS’s Front them to justice. towards China. He said Cambo- China, Cambodia would still countries developing [while making our next generation Line Command by the patrol dia had made attempts to build use ox-driven carts for trans- we fall behind].” suffer. We must push our forces the next day. www.phnompenhpost.com closer ties with the US, but their portation. China was the first To improve Cambodia’s neu- country forward, not back- Mak Chito, deputy secre- check the post website side had not reciprocated. country to invest in Cambo- trality, Tain said the country ward,” Bona said. tary-general of the National for breaking news 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST febuary 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com

CP Cambodia boosts confidence with international food safety certification

A Thai-Cambodian household brand renowned for delighting consumers with its “Kitchen of the World” products is set to raise manufacturing standards with GMP and HACCP certification.

P Cambodia Co Ltd the nation, people and the reached a milestone company itself. achievement last Having obtained recog-

Friday when it nition for its food safety SUPP LIED S PH OTO wasC awarded the Good management systems, CP CP Cambodia Co Ltd was awarded GMP and HACCP certification last Friday. Manufacturing Practice Cambodia’s diversified busi- (GMP) and Hazard Analysis nesses – covering a wide made many changes along and Critical Control Points range of industries such the production value chain to (HACCP) certification. as animal feed production, ensure the products that we CP Cambodia was estab- animal husbandry, and food make are of the highest qual- lished in the Kingdom more and processing production – ity and safe to be consumed than 25 years ago by Charoen is set to raise the bar further by Cambodians. Pokphand Foods Public for quality standards in the “Having the same inter- Company Limited, Thailand’s Kingdom’s agro-industrial national quality standards leading agro-industrial and and food industries. as other countries will mean food conglomerate. “Receiving both the GMP that consumers in our country “CP Cambodia is to be and HACCP certifications is will no longer have to rely on commended for overcoming very important. It shows that imports from neighbouring all obstacles in developing the food production sys- countries such as Thailand a regulated, sustainable and tems in Cambodia can reach and Vietnam because Cam- safe food production system international standards and bodia can also produce safe as part of its efforts to raise that Cambodians are able to food,” Sinath said. the standard of its products access quality and safe food Meng Kheang added: “I for consumption nationwide. with confidence. have been in business with CP “GMP and HCCP certifi- “Quality has and will Cambodia for six years. The cation further validates the always be at the heart of our certification will benefit my company’s commitment to company. It is the principal business tremendously. Apart deliver quality Thai prod- focus that drives all our CP Cambodia vice-president Thanachit Sriboonlue (centre right) received the certification. from telling customers that ucts manufactured locally to production processes, from CP’s products are made to suit consumers. animal feed production agement systems, they are sewage – health and food Cambodia,” said Mao Thira, Asian tastes, we can now also “This will not only give to animal husbandry and both designed to guarantee safety guidelines need to be the director of the regulatory tell them that the products Cambodians an affordable finished food products for food safety based on the regulated and fulfilled. department at the Institute of are safely and hygienically way to enjoy popular Thai consumer consumption. “Recommended International “HACCP in contrast, is a Cambodia (ISC). made to quality international products, but also develop “By advocating quality, Code of Practice General system that focuses on the And in an industry where standards.” human capital resources while adopting and implementing Principles of Food Hygiene” thorough scrutiny of points manufacturing practices The benefits of GMP and strengthening Thai-Cam- international food safety pro- by the Codex Alimentarius that could pose a risk to the matter in the bolstering of HACCP does just not end with bodian relationships at the cesses, today we are able to Commission. production line. consumer confidence, GMP building consumer confidence same time,” Thai Ambassador contribute towards promoting “As a certified practitioner “With these two certifi- and HACCP certification and providing sustainability to Cambodia HE Panyarak the nation as a producer of of GMP, CP Cambodia has to cations, CP Cambodia has will undoubtedly elevate the to the company. Poolthup said as part of his goods made to the highest ensure operational processes shown it clearly pays the company’s products – a belief Moving forward, the congratulatory speech. standards,” said Thanachit are conducted properly – utmost attention to the health asserted by food research and company has pledged to In its vision to become Sriboonlue, the vice-presi- from the handling of raw and hygiene of its products to development specialist Nov continue to conduct research the “Kitchen of the World”, dent of CP Cambodia Co Ltd. materials to the finished ensure quality and safety for Sinath and retail partner Heng and produce further food the company is propelled by GMP and HACCP certi- product. consumers. Meng Kheang. products, including the the philosophy of sustainable fications are awarded for “At every point of opera- “I hope that other compa- “As an employee of CP development of new products business development de- the consistent upholding of tion – from factory construc- nies in Cambodia also work Cambodia, I am delighted for to meet the preferences signed to deliver three pillars health, food safety and sani- tion to the inflow of human towards achieving GMP and the company to have been and needs of consumers of of benefits. tation standards. capital and the circulation HACCP certification and GMP and HACCP certified. all ages. These are the benefit of Two separate food man- of air, to the outflow of follow the lead set by CP “We have worked hard and a l Advertori Thai Ambassador to Cambodia HE Panyarak Poolthup (front centre) attended the event. ‘Quality will always be at the heart of our company,’ Thanachit said. THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Fires torch property, forests

Khouth Sophak Chakrya out in the Keo Vichey primary man activities. We suspect this school in Kandieng commune. was a case of arson with the IN THE first week of February, School principal Uy Leang intent of catching wildlife or fires in Phnom Penh and Pursat Hak, 48, sustained minor in- encroaching on forest land for injured three people, ravaged juries after he tried but failed illegal private ownership.” two warehouses and damaged to save his two cows which he “Our officers are currently one school building with two raised and kept in the school. questioning them one by one cows inside killed. Wildfires in “The 6m by 32m school to find out the truth. Siem Reap and Battambang building had four rooms made “People who intentionally provinces also burned over from wood and roofed with cause forest or mangrove fires 100ha of protected forests. clay and the study materials must be charged with a first-de- Phnom Penh Fire Prevention within were destroyed,” Ann gree forestry or fisheries offence and Rescue Police Department said, adding the fire was also that is punishable by imprison- chief Prum Yorn told The Post caused by a short circuit. ment from three to five years or that two warehouse fires had Meanwhile, Siem Reap pro- five to 10 years according to Ar- broken out in separate districts vincial Forestry Administra- ticle 97 of the Forestry Law and of the capital, injuring two men tion director Mong Bunlim Article 98 of the Fisheries Law, Bas-reliefs carved on the ancient temples in Siem Reap are seen with painted pink lips. supplied and damaging goods. told The Post that a forest respectively,” Bunlim said. According to Yorn, at 8:30am fire spread to a plantation of Srey Ra, director of the Phnom on February 6, a fire broke out luxury Thnong trees in a pro- Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in in a 16m by 25m metal ware- tected area, burning 105ha. Battambang province’s Samlot ANA: Don’t write on temples house in Kamboul district’s Ple- Officials are investigating three district, said that on February ung Chheh Roteh commune, families living nearby in Ang- 5 a forest fire had spread to Voun Dara the past and had also banned damaging cultural heritage destroying shoe glue, thinner kanh village of Svay Leu district. about 2ha of the sanctuary. Ra some troublemakers. out of superstition by writing and other goods. A 29-year-old Bunlim said: “Forest fires in also suspected the fire of being HE Apsara National “We demand that people their names on the temples. Chinese stock manager named Cambodia do not occur natu- arson for purposes on land en- Authority (ANA) has stop writing on the ancient “Writing your name on the Peng Quiyun and a 24-year- rally – they are caused by hu- croachment. urged the public and temples, which are the heritage temple stones cannot make you old Cambodian driver named tourists to stop writ- of our ancestors – our national lucky. It is a heinous act,” he said. Chey Si Thoeun were injured. ingT or painting graffiti on the heritage. Such graffiti does not Leng called on the ANA and The fire was brought under ancient temples in Siem Reap help to maintain the temples the police to take stronger ac- control by 12:30pm, but anoth- province which it said amount- or show love for them. It just tion to prevent such activities. er broke out in Sen Sok district’s ed to vandalism and under- damages them,” he said. Chhorn Eang, another Khmuonh commune where a mined the value of Cambodia’s Kosal said the ANA has Phnom Penh resident, said 5m by 7m auto parts warehouse national cultural heritage. placed agents at some loca- that the tradition of writing on stood, destroying its contents. ANA spokesman Long Kosal tions around the temples at the stones of the temple has “These two warehouse fires told The Post that there have different times to watch for been going on for many years. were caused by short circuits,” been many incidents in the vandalism but the temples are Eang said most of the van- Yorn said, adding there have been past of people writing graffiti numerous and they cannot be dals are young people who are 12 fires in Phnom Penh since the on the ancient temple stones everywhere at once. in love or believe that writing start of the year resulting in two because they mistakenly be- Kosal said that to maintain on the temple will make their deaths and two injuries. lieved that it would bring and preserve the temples wishes come true. Buth Ann, director of Fire them good luck. most effectively they need the “This activity will destroy the Prevention and Extinguishing Kosal said the authorities cooperation of all the visitors. beauty of the ancient temples Inspectorate in Pursat prov- had detained some citizens Taing Leng, a Phnom Penh and erase all the ancient let- ince’s Kandieng district, told A forest fire burns in Siem Reap province’s Svay Leu district on for guidance on this issue in resident, regrets seeing people ters,” Eang said. The Post that a fire had broken February 1. agriculture ministry Cambodia Post Bank authorised to collect taxes

Cambodia Post Bank Plc with greater transparency, achieved another significant accountability and efficiency. milestone on Monday after the “It can bring tax services General Department of Taxa- closer to taxpayers and help tion of Cambodia allowed the reduce difficulties by regaining financial institution to collect their trust. taxes. “The official launch of Individuals and companies the Cambodia Post Bank Plc can now pay tax – such as service to collect taxes is a new property, withholding and page in capturing the potential vehicle taxes, as well as VAT, of the information technology among others – at the bank’s of the General Department of branches. Taxation, under the Ministry At a special ceremony, the of Economy and Finance, and bank announced that the Gen- the bank. eral Department of Taxation of “It is also an important Cambodia had authorised the contribution to the promotion financial institution to collect of e-government and Industry taxes as it is well positioned in 4.0, especially in responding the market to roll out the new effectively during the Covid-19 service. Cambodia Post Bank on Monday added a new service – the collection of individual and corporate taxes. supplied pandemic, which requires social Cambodia Post Bank CEO distancing,” said Sambath. Toch Chaochek said: “Paying nance has authorised the bank finance Institution, and 77 deputy director of the General representatives from the tax Last year, the bank also taxes is the responsibility of to collect taxes for the General ATMs nationwide, making it Department of Taxation, HE Ok department. launched a number of digital every citizen to support state Department of Taxation. convenient for customers and Bora, the Royal Government “The official launch of the banking systems, including spending. “Today, Cambodia Post the general public to pay taxes delegate in charge of the Cambodia Post Bank Plc’s online account and loan appli- “Taxes are an important Bank has total assets of over easily and take less time,” director general of Cambodia services for tax collection is cations, rapid credit assessment source of national income to $1 billion, a network of 58 Chaochek said. Post Bank, and adviser to aimed at facilitating, promot- systems, Visa card processing, drive development from the branches, 51 subsidiaries, The event was presided over the bank’s board of directors ing and accelerating the deliv- mobile banking, retail pay and national administration to the including the Funan Micro- by HE Dr Ken Sambath, the and senior management and ery of tax services to taxpayers bank transfers via the National sub-national level to meet Bank of Cambodia’s Bakong the needs and necessities of system. Cambodians.” The bank’s total assets stood Higher tax collection also at over $1 billion, totalling ensures the sustainability of more than 100,000 accounts state expenditure, especially and over 50,000 ATM cards tax revenues, which can be providing financial services to used to build social infrastruc- Cambodians. ture such as schools, hospitals, In addition to tax collection, roads, bridges, parks and Cambodia Post Bank offers a pagodas, he added. wide range of other financial “Cambodia Post Bank is services, including credit and very proud that the General debit cards, loans and savings Department of Taxation of the accounts, as well as domestic Ministry of Economy and Fi- and international remittances. Cambodia Post Bank CEO Toch Chaochek (left) and HE Dr Ken Sambath, the deputy director of the General Department of Taxation. HENG CHIVOAN a l Advertori 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,081 1.2777 6.4542 105.62 4.0655 1.3357 30.02 0.7660 1.2027 1.3703

Trading Information on Cambodia Securities Exchange Date: February 8, 2021 Auction Trading Method (ATM) No Stock Closing Price Opening Price High Low 1 ABC 17,000 17,000 17,200 17,000 2 GTI 3,280 3,280 3,280 3,280 3 PAS 13,700 13,500 13,760 13,500 4 PEPC 2,950 2,880 2,960 2,820 5 PPAP 11,700 11,500 11,700 11,500 6 PPSP 1,510 1,520 1,520 1,500 7 PWSA 6,060 6,080 6,080 6,000 ‘Container Large-scale farm survey released stockpiling May Kunmakara

NEW farm survey tallied in August led 1,726,000 household agricul- tural holdings in Cambodia or 50.2 per cent of all 3,438,000 to price hike’ households,A as counted by the Cambo- Continued from page 1 dia Socio-Economic Survey 2017. The latest Cambodia Inter-censal exports of Cambodian milled rice fi- Agriculture Survey 2019 (CIAS 2019) nally passing the one-million-tonne noted that 88 per cent of household target this year. agricultural holdings engaged in crop “A number of buyers of Cambodian activity, while 75 per cent reported milled rice have opted to postpone raising livestock, poultry or insects. their orders. Milled-rice exports are CIAS 2019 is the first large-scale facing major headwinds, especially survey of the agriculture sector in the first quarter,” Sokheang said, since the Census of Agriculture in adding that the private sector has Cambodia 2013, the UN Food and called on Minister of Public Works Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said and Transport Sun Chanthol to work in a press statement. with ship owners on a solution. With a report on its findings Cambodia exported 34,273 tonnes of poised for launch on February 9, milled rice last month, down 32.07 per FAO said the census is funded by cent from 50,450 tonnes in January last the Cambodian government, the US year, according to a Ministry of Agri- Agency for International Develop- culture, Forestry and Fisheries report. ment (USAID), FAO and the Bill and Keo Mom, CEO of LY LY Food In- Melinda Gates Foundation. dustry Co Ltd, said Covid-19 has In partnership with the Ministry resulted in a surge in shipping costs of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisher- and an increase in production costs. ies and with support from FAO, the There are 1,726,000 household agricultural holdings in Cambodia, or 50.2 per cent of all 3,438,000 households. HONG MENEA A protracted pandemic crisis could Ministry of Planning’s National In- render producers unprofitable, or stitute of Statistics (NIS) conducted mate the share of their total house- NIS director-general Hang Lina said As of this year, the AGRISurvey will even trigger catastrophic losses. the survey, collecting data on crop hold income that was accounted for FAO provided her institute with tech- be incorporated into the “50x2030 Ini- In addition to rising costs, she said cultivation, livestock and poultry by agriculture – an estimated 32 per nology for use in the data collection. tiative”, a 10-year global programme overseas shipping has also been raising, aquaculture and capture cent reported “about half”, 17 per “I wish to thank FAO for giving NIS led by a collaborative partnership be- dogged by a shortage of shipping fishing, the UN body said. cent said “most or almost all”, while access to new technologies, which re- tween the World Bank, FAO and the vessels and containers, leading to CIAS 2019 found that an estimat- only four per cent indicated “all”. sulted in the first national tablet-based International Fund for Agricultural longer transit times. ed 234,000 household agricultural FAO representative in Cambodia data collection. I also wish to express Development (IFAD), FAO said. “Some exports have a pre-contract holdings were involved in capture Alexandre Huynh said CIAS 2019 will my gratitude to USAID for their sig- The initiative aims to fill the ag- price, hence rising shipping costs will fishing activity, with 63 per cent re- help close the agricultural data gap nificant financial support, which was ricultural data gap in 50 low and deal a blow to suppliers,” Mom said. porting lower catches in 2019 than and contribute to the effective plan- fundamental in successfully complet- lower-middle income countries by Cambodia Logistics Association in 2018 and just nine per cent post- ning, financing and implementation ing the CIAS 2019,” she said. 2030, and provide information on (CLA) president Sin Chanthy said ing larger figures. of agricultural development strategies. According to FAO, the CIAS 2019 the progress made in the adoption the surge in shipping costs began in The survey assessed that 31 per “Timely and quality data will support is part of the “AGRISurvey”, a multi- and implementation of agriculture- August and is now a far cry from pre- cent of the household agricultural the Royal Government of Cambodia to year programme aimed at providing related Sustainable Development Covid-19 levels. holdings reported a lower agricul- ensure food security and mitigate the quality information to planners and Goals (SDGs), it added. Cambodia He claimed that some shipping tural income in 2019 than in 2018. economic impacts of the Covid-19 policymakers and building national was the first country to join the ini- prices around the world had risen Holders were also asked to esti- pandemic in Cambodia,” he said. capacity on the best survey practices. tiative in Asia. between 200 and 400 per cent, while exploding 10-fold for other voyages. He attributed the volatility of the freight rates to Covid-19, which trig- gered many countries and carriers to reduce Lift-On Lift-Off (LOLO) Brent oil hits year-high above $60 per barrel cargo handling operations and trim their labour force. THE benchmark oil contract Brent OPEC+ . . . since May.” with US oil contract WTI even briefly market was “stalling” and might not China in August significantly North Sea rose above $60 per barrel on Crude and other assets are winning turning negative. recover for years without support. ramped up production and exports February 8 to hit the highest level since support also from the prospect of a And despite production cuts, oil But she told CNN that if the spending to the US and Europe, leading to the coronavirus pandemic began to $1.9 trillion US stimulus package. supplies remain high. package was passed, “we would get container congestion in the East spread globally almost a year ago. European and Asian stock markets Schieldrop added: “Global oil demand back to full employment next year”. Asian country and a global shortage Oil prices have recovered owing to also climbed on February 8, while the is still hurt badly by the global pandemic.” Despite the weak jobs reading, all that persists today, he said. the Organisation of the Petroleum dollar rose against its main rivals. Recovery in part relies on US law- three main indices on Wall Street “Containers at the moment are Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its Adding to the upbeat mood is data makers approving President Joe ended on a positive note on February not only very expensive, but even allies cutting production after the showing new Covid infection rates, with Biden’s huge stimulus package that 5, with the Nasdaq and S&P 500 booking is difficult,” Chanthy said, coronavirus pandemic slashed last week seeing the lowest level since should help the jobs market. clocking up new records. noting that milled-rice accounts for demand, according to analysts. October, while governments begin to get Figures last week showed the US IG trading group senior market ana- many of the reservations. SEB Research chief commodities to grips with inoculation programmes. economy created less than half the lyst Joshua Mahony said: “Markets are Cambodia’s total exports reached analyst Bjarne Schieldrop noted: “It is Brent crude hit $60.27 per barrel on number of jobs expected last month, continuing last week’s bullish momen- $16 billion last year, marking an in- worth reminding oneself that OPEC+ February 8, the first time it has exceed- which analysts said reinforced the tum, with Friday’s [February 5] jobs crease of more than 14 per cent com- is the single most important reason ed $60 since February last year. need for a new, big spending bill. report providing a fresh reminder of pared to 2019, Prime Minister Hun Sen for why the oil price reached $60. After lockdowns began to spread in Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on the need to push a major stimulus told a live press briefing on December “It is because of large cuts by March, oil prices dropped off a cliff, February 7 warned that the US job package across the line.” AFP 29, citing preliminary data. THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Two power plants planned in Laos for sale of electricity to Cambodia CONSTRUCTION of two coal- ite du Laos (EDL) in the export ment and environmental pro- fired power plants will begin of power to Cambodia. tection, and ensure that power at the end of this year in Sekong “Cambodia will buy electric- plants benefit local communi- province in the southeast of ity from our power plants for ties and help to improve liveli- Laos, according to a senior 7.3 US cents per kWh,” the hoods in the area. government official. deputy minister said. The government will learn Officials say these plants will When asked about the from experiences gained during become operational and begin amount of coal present in the the operation of the Hongsa transmitting electricity to Cam- two districts to supply the coal-fired power plant, the larg- bodia in 2025 based on an agree- power plants, Dr Daovong said est energy-generating plant in ment signed between the devel- it was sufficient to supply the Laos, when building the new opers and the Lao government. two plants over the concession coal-fired power plants in Deputy Minister of Energy period of 25 years. southern Laos. Laos is looking and Mines Dr Daovong More surveys will be carried to increase electricity exports to Phonekeo told Vientiane Times out to locate coal seams in neighbouring countries includ- that the first power plant will other areas as alternative ing Vietnam and Cambodia. be built by Phonesack Group sources of supply. The 260MW Don Sahong Co Ltd in Kaleum district, with Sekong provincial governor hydropower project in Khong installed capacity of 1,800MW. Leklay Sivilay told reporters district, Champasak province, is Cambodia plans to expand its clean-energy portfolio to 450MW by the end of next year. PUBLIC DOMAIN “The company will invest recently that Sekong has huge already transmitting electricity to about $3-4 billion in the power potential to produce energy for Cambodia’s Stung Treng province. plant, including the construc- export, which will generate income Laos intends to increase the tion of power lines to transmit for local people and drive eco- amount of electricity sold to electricity to Cambodia,” he said, nomic growth in the province. Cambodia as the existing trans- Three solar farms to adding that the transmission line He said the government will mission line has the capacity to would be 200km in length. take into account the need to carry more energy. VIENTIANE The second power plant will balance power plant develop- TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK be built in Lamam district by a add 120MW in 2021 Chinese company which plans to invest more than $1 billion Thou Vireak everyone involved in the sup- ing the power supply enough in the project, which will have ply chain ecosystem. will stabilise electricity, as well installed capacity of 700MW. HREE solar farms “It’s fantastic that we’ll get as our production capacities. Dr Daovong said that, based with a total 120MW the added supply of electricity. And lower prices will help on the agreement, the Chinese of installed capaci- This is very important for us as us producers all the more by company was to supply ties are on track to be domestic producers, especial- trimming production costs.” 600MW to Cambodia. How- connectedT to the national grid ly in such a cut-throat market Jona claimed that Cambo- ever, the company wants to by this year’s end, to help keep environment that hinges on dia would not face a shortage ensure a sustainable supply of pace with growing demand and production costs,” she said. of electricity this year, add- energy to the buyer so has slash electricity prices, accord- She said manufacturers re- ing that the Kingdom boasts decided to increase the ing to a senior official at the quire a reasonable electricity 3,000MW of capacity in the installed capacity to 700MW. Ministry of Mines and Energy. pricing strategy that provides rainy season and 2,200MW in The Chinese company will Victor Jona, the director-gen- the most affordable electricity the dry season. not build transmission lines Cambodia will buy electricity from two coal-fired power plants in Laos eral of the ministry’s General to boost output, lower produc- “We will not have a shortage but will partner with Electric- for 7.3 US cents per kWh. VIENTIANE TIMES Department of Energy listed tion costs, increase sales do- of electricity supply because the projects as a 60MW solar mestically and internationally our supply-demand ratio farm in Battambang province, and better compete with neigh- eclipses the plan, it is higher a 30MW project in Pursat prov- bouring countries’ products. than the amount of energy we ince and another 30MW facility “We local producers hope need and even if there’s more in Banteay Meanchey province. the government will consider demand we’ll be able to im- He pointed out that Cambo- these challenges faced by small port from other neighbouring dia plans to expand its clean- and medium-sized enterprises countries,” he said. energy portfolio to 450MW by [SMEs], just as parents would Last week, the Council for the end of next year. to help their children,” she said. the Development of Cambo- Thaung Thyda, managing Mao Sothea, an official with dia (CDC) approved a 60MW director of Kampot-Kep salt pepper exporter Sela Pepper solar farm in Kampong Chh- processing firm Thaung Trad- Co Ltd, said the increase in nang province’s Teuk Phos dis- ing Co Ltd, told The Post that power supply capacity would trict with a capital investment electricity prices are still high further improve energy secu- of $37.4 million and developed compared to neighbouring rity for SMEs in Cambodia. by a special purpose vehicle countries, pushing produc- She said: “This is good news named Prime Road Alterna- tion costs up and affecting for businesspeople. Increas- tive (Cambodia) Co Ltd. Construction of Koh Kong airport project postponed Thou Vireak business, they’ve decided to Airports, the long-standing own- delay [construction of the air- er and manager of the Kingdom’s CONSTRUCTION of an interna- port] until the global health three international airports, pas- tional airport in Koh Kong prov- crisis has eased,” he said. senger traffic at the airports took ince with $40 million capital A notice from the Council of an 81.3 per cent nosedive last investment has been postponed Ministers released in January year from 2019, while cargo traf- until the Covid-19 situation last year said the government fic dropped 29.9 per cent. eases, according State Secretar- had decided to relocate the air- Last month, he said the iat of Civil Aviation (SSCA) port from the 400ha site in Khe- strong reduction in commer- spokesman Sin Chanserey- marak Phoumin city to a 600ha cial flights, and hence cargo vutha. site in Mondul Seima district’s capacity, had hampered the The airport is a joint venture Bak Khlang commune to “allow demand for air freight. between Ly Yong Phat’s LYP for additional investments”. “Having an accurate outlook Group and Bangkok Airways There is currently another air- is challenging as the Covid-19 Pcl. port under development in Koh situation is constantly and rap- Chansereyvutha told The Kong province. The $350 million idly evolving. We currently rely Post that the project was still Dara Sakor International Air- on a handful of flights to and in its preparation stage. “The port in Botum Sakor district is from a few Chinese cities, Sin- government has already hand- being developed by Chinese gapore and South Korea and we ed over the site for the airport, firm Tianjin Union Develop- don’t expect many changes in but there is much to be done ment Group and is expected to the next three months. with the private sector. be inaugurated by year’s end. “The trend is on a downward “On the other hand, as fall- According to Khek Norinda, spiral due to tightening travel out from Covid-19 affects pri- communications and public restrictions and quarantine vate sector investment and relations director at Cambodia measures,” Norinda said. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Kirin cuts Most Japan firms post losses, profit falls ties with IXTY per cent of com- cial reporting standards, as the panies listed on the number of customers shop- First Section of the ping at actual stores declined. Myanmar Tokyo Stock Exchange However, online sales grew JAPANESE conglomerate Kirin whichS released earnings re- by about 50 per cent, and the Holdings Co Ltd has termi- ports through February 4 company expects sales and nated its ties with Myanmar’s posted losses or reduced prof- profits to be in the black for military-linked company its for the April-December the full year ending August Myanmar Economic Holdings period, according to a tally by 2021. In 2018, it constructed Pcl – a decision being seen as SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. a huge logistics warehouse in a strong message to the Myan- SMBC Nikko tabulated the Tokyo for its online shopping mar military. financial results of 636 compa- business, which is proving to The announcement comes nies, which excludes financial be the right move. days after Myanmar military institutions and accounts for Alpen Co, a major sporting took control of the country 47.6 per cent of the total firms goods retailer whose name through a coup and detained listed on TSE’s First Section. was once synonymous with the country’s elected leader While a harsh business cli- skiing goods, posted record Aung San Suu Kyi and other mate continues particularly in sales for the first-half period political leaders of the Nation- the non-manufacturing sector, that ended in December. The al League of Democracy that some companies have stood company projects annual net saw a landslide victory in the out as efforts launched before profit to hit a record high, November elections. the novel coronavirus crisis have about 500 times better than In a statement on February fit perfectly with new lifestyles the previous fiscal year. 5, Kirin Holdings said it is brought about by the pandem- While the number of ski- deeply concerned by the ic, resulting in record profits. ers has been on a decline recent actions of the military Company employees put financial statements in cubby holes at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Friday. The According to SMBC Nikko, number of such employees was fewer than usual under the state of emergency. THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN in Japan, Alpen has opened in Myanmar, which are 280 of the 636 companies, or outdoor specialty stores and against the standards and 44 per cent, saw a decline in services saw net profits drop continued. It is very strong.” a result, Sony was well placed strengthened its selection of human rights policy that net profits, while 104, or 16.3 48.6 per cent, a worsening Sony’s online subscription to capture growing demand golf and outdoor products. Kirin maintains. per cent, suffered losses for from the first-half results of services that allow unlimited when the pandemic led more Golf and camping have grown “We decided to invest in the period. 30 per cent. The land and air home access to music or games people to refrain from going in popularity as leisure activi- Myanmar in 2015, believing Total of sales by the 636 transportation sectors both are doing well. For the April-De- out and to work from home. ties that allow people to avoid that, through our business, we companies fell by nearly 10 suffered significant losses. cember period, the company Its game, music and fi- crowds, and the company has could contribute positively to per cent from the same pe- On the other hand, some posted an 87 per cent increase nancial units all reported cashed in on brisk sales of re- the people and the economy riod in 2019, and total net companies have reported up- in consolidated net profit to a increased profits. The com- lated products. of the country as it entered an profits decreased by 29.5 per beat earnings thanks to launch- record high of 1.0647 trillion pany also revised upward to “It’s difficult to respond important period of democra- cent. While that margin of ing subscription services, yen ($10 billion), based on US 1.085 trillion yen its annual quickly to changes caused by tisation,” it said. profit decline marked an im- strengthening online shopping accounting standards. net profit forecast for the year the coronavirus pandemic,” However, it said, given the provement from that for the businesses or starting other Since the 2000s, Sony has through March 31. said Nomura Securities Co current circumstances, it has first-half period through Sep- ventures before the pandemic. shifted to profitable subscrip- Fast Retailing Co, the opera- senior strategist Takashi Ito. no option but to terminate its tember 2020, when it stood at Sony Corp executive deputy tion and insurance services af- tor of the casual clothing giant “Businesses for which the current joint-venture partner- 40.7 per cent, the extent of re- president and CEO Hiroki To- ter its TV and other home elec- Uniqlo, reported a slight de- companies planted seeds ship with Myanmar Economic covery has varied by industry. toki told a February 3 press tronics businesses became cline in sales and profits for the have contributed to strong Holdings, which provides the Non-manufacturing indus- conference: “Demand from sluggish amid competition September-November period, earnings.” THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN service of welfare fund man- tries such as travel and food people staying at home has from South Korean rivals. As based on international finan- (JAPAN)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK agement for the military. “We will be taking steps as a matter of urgency to put this termination into effect,” read the statement. According to Japan Times, Kirin acquired a majority stake in Myanmar Brewery in 2015 in partnership with Myanmar Economic Hold- ings Ltd (MEHL). It was part of billions of dollars in foreign investment which flooded into the country with the par- tial lifting of international sanctions. Kirin took a controlling stake in Mandalay Brewery Ltd in 2017 at a cost of $4.3 million, topping off its more than $500 million investment in top producer Myanmar Brewery in 2015. Human rights groups have been demanding that Japa- nese and other foreign compa- nies having businesses linked to Myanmar military cut their ties since 2017 when a brutal military crackdown caused influx of some 750,000 Rohing- yas to Bangladesh. Rights groups called it a genocide. Faced with pressure from human rights monitors, Kirin hired third-party investigators to look into the business and said in November it was halt- ing payments from the beer ventures to MEHL. But it had been undecided on how to resolve the issue. Justice For Myanmar, a cov- ert group of activists, congrat- ulated Kirin following January 5’s statement, saying it has been a major financial sup- porter of the Myanmar mili- tary and has made the right decision by ending that rela- tionship after the military’s illegitimate February 1 coup. THE DAILY STAR (BANGLADESH)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 9

www.phnompenhpost.com/post-focus interior fit-out PHOTOS SUPPLIED PHOTOS Wenge Works has worked for high-end international brands such as Jimmy Choo, building its stores in Singapore (above) and Malaysia (top right). The firm is responsible for the Christian Louboutin store in Hanoi, Vietnam Wenge Works’ top-quality interiors ensuring satisfaction in Kingdom

mentor as I learned and gained experience in project management. And after 12 years of working on high-end projects I had the confidence to branch out on my own. “I set up Wenge Works in 2012, singapore | Cambodia | vietnam naming the company after my favourite luxury wood veneer finish. ringing the highest Phnom Penh, Lee is committed to I started off very small, with small international standards to ensuring his customers are entirely projects, but previous clients who Cambodia, Wenge Works satisfied. understood my strengths gave me is raising the bar for the “We have the greatest responsibility support and encouragement as Bquality of interior fit-out works in the to deliver the highest standards Wenge Works grew from humble Kingdom. and are always seeking to improve beginnings. Started in Singapore in 2012 by through a process of never-ending “With recommendations and Evans Lee, the company has grown learning,” he said. growing awareness from other brands to work across Southeast Asia, In 2000, Lee started at a major the company went from strength to completing projects in Malaysia, shopfitting company in Singapore strength, and I have shown that with Vietnam and Cambodia. specialising in high-end brands, a dedication to ensuring the highest Having worked with a range working for a man who he describes standards, a small company can of high-end brands such as Tod’s, as his “mentor”. thrive,” Lee said. Valentino, Jimmy Choo, Roger Vivier, “I had no background in And the Singaporean says that by Wenge Works fitted out the Moncler store in Phnom Penh. Diane von Furstenberg and Gucci, the shopfitting, but my boss, Jay Chiu, remaining small it allows him to focus company first came to the Kingdom fully supported me, becoming my on quality. quality of the store he was shopping With his company built on the in 2015 to fit the Salvatore Ferragamo “Even now we are relatively small in – one that we had built – and he commitment to excellence, Lee says store in Phnom Penh’s Vattanac compared to the big players in the tracked me down. that as the Kingdom develops, he is Capital Mall. market, but this means we can better “With such projects, we speak with seeing Cambodians also expecting “We are a company that is ensure quality. the client to understand their tastes, higher standards. committed to ensuring customer “We have an in-house team of 15, working closely with them at each “Some of the projects I have been satisfaction, supplying the highest with three main project managers step of the way to ensure they are called in for have been to rebuild levels of quality having worked with who I can fully rely on to uphold entirely satisfied,” Lee said. interiors that weren’t done to the high-end international brands for the highest standards, while our Lee said the success of his first standards demanded by the client. many years. carpenters are highly experienced and projects in Cambodia shows the “This demonstrates how important “I want Cambodia to have the best extremely skilled,” he said. appetite is there for the highest it is to have a reliable and trustworthy quality interiors, matching that found While the majority of Wenge quality. contractor like Wenge Works. I want in Singapore or anywhere else in the Works’ projects are satisfying the “I thought my first project here was to ensure Cambodia has the highest world, be it London, New York or highest-end retail brands, the quality to be a one-off, but I saw potential standards available. Quality pays for Paris,” Lee said. of the firm’s store interiors has led to and more followed. And more are itself,” Lee said. A pioneer in building high-end private projects. in the pipeline, with Wenge Works brands’ stores in Cambodia, being “I was invited to design and create having been approached by a major For more information, visit www. responsible for the shop interiors the interior of a house in Phnom Cambodian conglomerate and a top wengeworks.com.sg or email evans@ for most of the high-end brands in Evans Lee, the director of Wenge Works. Penh after the client noticed the construction company,” he said. wengeworks.com.sg 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com World Flash flood Coup amid presidential term limit ‘like scenes from movie’, dispute foiled, Haiti authorities say survivor says aitian authorities Continued from page 1 on February 7 said they had foiled an the entrance. Emergency work- attempt to murder ers were using heavy machin- PresidentH Jovenel Moise and ery to remove tonnes of rocks. overthrow the government, “Approximately 80m inside as a dispute rages over when the tunnel is cleared and acces- his term ends. sible. It appears that approxi- The plot was an “attempted mately 100m of debris inside coup d’etat”, according to the tunnel is yet to be cleared,” justice minister Rockefeller said Vivek Kumar Pandey, an- Vincent, with authorities say- other disaster official. ing at least 23 people have Several hundred rescue been arrested, including a top workers resumed their search judge and an official from the operation at first light onF eb- national police. ruary 8 including national “I thank my head of security and state disaster response at the palace. The goal of these teams, the army and navy people was to make an at- diving teams. tempt on my life,” Moise said. “That plan was aborted,” Disaster movie he added, speaking on the Scores of social media users tarmac at Port-au-Prince captured the disaster, with airport, accompanied by his footage showing water tear- wife and Prime Minister Jo- ing through the narrow valley seph Jouthe. with terrifying force. Jouthe said plotters had “We were 300m inside the contacted police officials at tunnel working. Suddenly the presidential palace who there was whistling and shout- were planning to arrest Moise ing telling us to get out,” said and then help install a “tran- survivor Rajesh Kumar, 28. sition” president. “We started running out Leon Charles, the direc- but the water gushed in. It tor of Haiti’s national police was like scenes from a Holly- force, said officers had seized wood movie. We thought we documents, cash and several wouldn’t make it,” he said. weapons, including assault Authorities said initially rifles, an Uzi submachine that the cause was a chunk of gun, pistols and machetes. glacier breaking off into a riv- Jouthe added that among Protesters burn a US flag on Sunday in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to demand the resignation of president Jovenel Moïse, who seeks to extend his term er, but the trigger may instead of office until February next year, which according to the constitution ends this February 7. AFP the documents was a speech have been a phenomenon from the judge who had Moise has been governing tions so that parliament may officials should have been for providing technical and called a glacial lake outburst planned on becoming inter- without any checks on his pow- resume its rightful role”. held in 2018, but the polls logistical support for Moise’s flood (GLOF). im leader in a transition gov- er for the past year and says he The dispute over when the have been delayed, triggering plans to hold a constitutional This is when the boundaries ernment. remains president until Febru- president’s term ends stems the vacuum in which Moise reform referendum in April of a glacial lake – formed when But political opposition fig- ary 7, 2022 – in an interpreta- from Moise’s original election says he is entitled to stay for followed by presidential and a glacier retreats – are breached, ures dismissed claims that a tion of the constitution rejected – he was voted into office in a another year. legislative elections. releasing large amounts of wa- coup had been attempted. by the opposition, which has poll subsequently cancelled on In recent years, angry Hai- The letter said the UN “must ter downstream. Lawyer Andre Michel said: led protests asserting that his grounds of fraud, and then elect- tians have demonstrated under no circumstances sup- It is possible that this in turn “You don’t carry out a coup term ended on Sunday. ed again a year later, in 2016. against what they call rampant port President Jovenel Moise was caused by an avalanche. with two pistols and three or The US on February 5 ac- After the latter disputed elec- government corruption and in his anti-democratic plans”. The incident may also have four rifles.” cepted the president’s claim tion, demonstrations demand- unchecked crime by gangs. Haiti’s capital Port-au- been triggered by water pock- He added that Moise could to power, with Department ing his resignation intensified In a February 5 letter to the Prince on February 7 saw ets inside a glacier bursting. not claim to have suffered of State spokesman Ned Price in the summer of 2018. UN mission in Haiti, several sparse demonstrations and Glaciers in the region have a coup attempt because his saying Washington has urged Voting to elect deputies, human rights and women’s sporadic clashes with police. been shrinking rapidly in re- presidential term had expired. “free and fair legislative elec- senators, mayors and local advocacy groups faulted it AFP cent years because of global warming, but experts say that the construction of hydro- electric plants could also be a factor. Floods in 2013 killed 6,000 ‘Russia rejects constructive dialogue with EU’ people and led to calls for a re- view of projects in Uttarakhand, The EU’s top diplomat on must draw the consequences, said the shock expulsion of alny protesters that has seen criticising Russia from a dis- a state of 10 million people bor- February 7 said Russia was including the possibility of three EU diplomats during his more than 10,000 people tance “will not bring greater dering Tibet and Nepal. rejecting constructive dialogue new sanctions. two-day visit to Moscow, arrested in recent weeks. security to the EU”. Vimlendhu Jha, founder of with the EU and that Europe In a blog post, Josep Borrell showed that Russia “did not Borrell’s trip took a negative “We have to face challenges, Swechha, an environmental want to seize this opportunity turn when Moscow expelled including meeting others in NGO, said the disaster was to have a more constructive diplomats from Poland, Ger- their home turf, just when a “grim reminder” of the ef- dialogue with the EU”. many and Sweden just hours negative events are unfolding” fects of climate change and The bloc “will have to draw after he met with Russian for- in order to better assess the the “haphazard development the consequences” he wrote, eign minister Sergei Lavrov to action to take. of roads, railways and power insisting that “it will be for discuss ties. “If we want a safer world for plants in ecologically sensi- member states to decide the The former Spanish foreign tomorrow, we have to act tive areas”. next steps, and yes, these could minister described the trip as decidedly today and be ready A major study in 2019 said include sanctions”. “very complicated” and said to take some risks,” he said. that two-thirds of Himalayan Borrell’s trip, which ended on he returned to Brussels “with Borrell will debrief his trip to glaciers, the world’s “Third February 6, had been a contro- deep concerns”. foreign ministers from the 27 Pole”, could melt by 2100 versial journey that divided the “It seems that Russia is pro- member states on February 22 if global emissions are not EU’s 27 member states, with gressively disconnecting itself and EU leaders will discuss sharply reduced. France and Germany backing from Europe and looking at their strained ties with Mos- Glaciers in the region are dialogue with the Kremlin. democratic values as an exis- cow at a summit next month. a critical source of water Other countries backed a tential threat,” he said. Drawing up EU sanctions for hundreds of millions of harder line after the jailing of Borrell, whose views do not are strictly up to the members people, feeding many of the The EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell (left) and Russian foreign minister Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny necessarily represent the 27, states and require unanimity world’s most important river Sergei Lavrov. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY/AFP and a crackdown on pro-Nav- defended his visit arguing that among the 27. AFP systems. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 ASEAN Singapore detects first case Batik dye causes blood-red flood in of likely Covid-19 reinfection Indonesian village he Ministry of Health, with an expert panel, An Indonesian village “They did not dump the dye has detected the first was inundated by crimson- on purpose, but several home case of likely Covid- coloured water after flooding industries were flooded and 19T reinfection in Singapore. hit a fabric dyeing centre in the dye packages were car- On February 6, the minis- central Java, sparking a social ried away by the water”, local try said the 28-year-old male media frenzy. disaster agency officialD imas Bangladeshi national holds Residents of Jenggot, near Arga Yudha said on February a work permit and resides in the town of Pekalongan, were 7, adding that the batik dye a dormitory at 43 Tech Park seen wading through blood- was not toxic or dangerous. Crescent. red water on February 6 and Local officials deployed He had been confirmed to many shared images of the pumps to drain the flooded have Covid-19 infection on rare phenomenon online. area and it was cleared in less April 12 last year and subse- Officials later confirmed than an hour. quently recovered, consis- the unique colour came from Floods are very common tently testing negative for the harmless fabric dye used by across the Indonesian archi- infection from June onwards. several batik factories in the pelago, especially during the But on January 25, his test area. rainy season. result came back positive for Pekalongan itself is well Last month at least 21 peo- Covid-19 infection, and he known for its batik textiles ple died and more than 60,000 was isolated. industry, with many cottage were evacuated after a series Numerous repeat tests con- industries flourishing across of major floods hit South Ka- ducted subsequently were the town. limantan. AFP also positive for the virus. He was identified from rostered monitoring testing conducted as part of the min- The case was identified from rostered monitoring testing.THE STRAITS TIMES istry’s surveillance of recov- ered workers to monitor their laboratory evidence suggests last month is also genetically try reported 26 new cases, all post-infection immunity. this is a likely case of reinfec- distinct from that associated imported. There were no new He reported that he felt un- tion. with the dormitories out- cases of locally transmitted well on January 22 and 23, The ministry added: “In break last year, suggesting infection. but was otherwise asymp- addition to his positive poly- this is likely a different and Overall, the number of new tomatic. merase chain reaction [PCR] new infection. cases in the community has The ministry said that while test results, there was a corre- The ministry said it “will decreased from three cases in reinfection is rare, the expert sponding marked increase in continue to closely monitor the week before to one case in panel, which comprises in- antibody titres compared to recovered Covid-19 cases to the past week. fectious diseases and micro- the period prior to the likely determine their post-infec- The number of unlinked biology experts from the Na- reinfection, suggesting that tion immunity. So far, there is cases in the community has tional Centre for Infectious he was exposed to a new in- no indication that recovered also decreased from two Diseases, Singapore General fection which boosted his an- workers in the dormitories cases in the week before to Hospital and the National tibody levels.” have significant loss of post- one case in the past week. THE Public Health Laboratory, as- It also noted that the virus infection immunity.” STRAITS TIMES (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS Indonesian police help transport residents with a rubber boat as floods sessed that the clinical and detected in his samples taken On February 6, the minis- NETWORK submerge part of the city in Semarang, central Java, on Sunday. afp Hope for VN community dashed by landslides Spring is coming and bring- are excited about living in Quoc Cuong said the locali- of An Xuan Phat One Mem- Pope Francis voices ing hope for better days ahead, new houses and studying in ties had been making efforts to ber Co Ltd – the resettlement especially for the Mo Nong new schools. search for missing people and project constructor – said the ethnic minority people of Tra On a visit to Quang Nam create new stable accommoda- company donated more than ‘solidarity with the Leng commune of Nam Tra My province soon after the land- tions and livelihoods for people 20 million dong to each fam- district in the central Vietnam- slide, Prime Minister Nguyen affected by natural disasters. ily to complete their houses ese province of Quang Nam. Xuan Phuc ordered support On December 22, the con- with the design featuring typ- people of Myanmar’ The Mo Nong are known to people living in landslide- struction of a new resettlement ical traditional house of the as the Bunong in Cambodia, hit areas so that no one would area was started by the govern- Mo Nong people. where they principally reside be homeless or hungry and so ment of Nam Tra My district to Meanwhile, Vietnam Elec- in Mondulkiri province. diseases wouldn’t emerge af- help the landslide victims. tricity donated three billion In October, during a time ter the natural disaster. Local authorities conduct- dong to build a preschool. The when Vietnam’s central region The prime minister urged ed a survey and chose a land Ministry of Agriculture and was suffering from successive measures to quickly stabilise plot with an area of 6ha for Rural Development donated storms and historic floodings, life and production for the resettlement. 30 solar lighting sets and six a severe landslide hit the re- people. This land plot was donated tonnes of sticky rice for resi- mote mountainous area of Tra Secretariat of Nam Tra My by people in Tra Don com- dents to have during Tet. The Leng, burying their houses and district Communist Party of mune. ministry also installed an au- killing a dozen of their family Vietnam (CPV) Committee Local people and authorities tomatic rainfall measuring sys- members and neighbours. Le Thanh Hung said people in Tra Don commune agreed tem to deliver timely warnings At that time, roads to the in Tra Leng commune could to donate 6ha of their land to about abnormal heavy rains. commune were blocked with soon recover from the severe victims in Tra Leng commune Ho Van De, a village elder in rocks, stones and thick lay- natural disaster thanks to to build a resettlement area. Tra Leng commune, said eight ers of mud. Bridges and dams great and timely support from Fifty-one households af- of his family members died or were swept away by strong agencies, organisations and fected by landslides in Tra went missing due to the ter- floodwaters. Local people des- people across the country. Leng commune received 150 rible landslide on October 28. Buddhist monks hold signs with the image of Myanmar military chief perately looked at what was Severe storms, floods and million dong ($6,550) from He said: “The losses to my Senior General Min Aung Hlaing during a demonstration against the left after the landslide. They landslides hit the district in the government and other family and my whole village military coup in Mandalay on Monday. STR/AFP lost their houses, their crops October, claiming 19 lives, donors to build new homes. always seem to be unbear- and worst of all, their family leaving 13 people missing and The local authorities also able pain to us. Pope Francis on February 7 ex- towards the common good,” members and neighbours. causing severe injuries to 33 sped up the construction of ba- “However, after the natural pressed “solidarity with the peo- he said from the balcony Those left behind feared for others. In Tra Leng commune sic infrastructure – power and disaster, thanks to support ple of Myanmar” following last overlooking St Peter’s Square their future. alone, the natural disaster clean water supply systems, a from the party, state and gov- week’s military coup, urging the after his recital of the Angelus Now, their pain has been killed 13 people, injured 20 community house, preschool ernment agencies, organi- army to work towards “demo- prayer on February 7. partly relieved and smiles can people and 13 people are still and roads – as well as restored sations and individuals, we cratic coexistence” as thousands The pope, who visited be seen again on their faces missing, he said. cultivation areas so that farm- know that we were not alone. demonstrate in the streets. Myanmar in 2017, called for as a new resettlement area As many as 95 houses were ing could be resumed soon. “We were not left hungry or The pope was speaking as “social justice, national sta- with new houses has been buried by landslides or swept Officials and soldiers of cold. We have a new hope to tens of thousands of protest- bility and harmonious demo- built for them, not far from away by floodwaters, Hung Military Zone V donated three start a better life. ers poured on to the streets of cratic coexistence”. the old village. said, let alone damage to in- billion dong to help Tra Leng “We will have a Tet [Lunar Yangon in the biggest rally yet There have been reports of In the place where they used frastructure, schools, health- people build a new communi- New Year] celebration in new against February 1’s military large protests on February 7 to live, lines of solar-powered care centres and crops. ty house which would be used houses. That makes us so coup. against the military regime lights were installed. Bridges Tra Leng commune People’s as a shelter during big storms. happy.” VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS “I pray that those in power in several cities across Myan- have been rebuilt. Children Committee chairman Phan Nguyen Duc Xuan, director NETWORK in the country will work . . . mar. afp 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Opinion Race to restore: Building Asia-Pacific’s www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng sustainable ocean economy Managing Editor Post Khmer the climate benefits of blue Sam Rith Opinion carbon ecosystems, including Deputy Chief of Staff Ingrid van Wees and John Tanzer advice on how countries may Phak Seangly include blue carbon in their Business Editor NPRECEDENT- Nationally Determined Con- May Kunmakara ED” might be tribution. Private sector incen- Deputy Business Editor judged the most Sangeetha Amarthalingam tives, such as blue bonds or used adjective of Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk reduced insurance premiums ‘2020,U and too often for dire for investments in nature- Pan Simala reasons. Yet the end of last year Senior Reporters based solutions like coral reef brought one more occasion to Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng protection and restoration, are use the word, when the lead- also promising. Reporters ers of 14 countries put forward To tackle the massive plas- Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, a new ocean action agenda tics crisis, and insidious Long Kimmarita, Hin Pisei, Mom Kunthear, underpinned by sustainably nutrient pollution expanding Hong Raksmey, Pann Rethea, Voun Dara, managing 100 per cent of ocean “dead zones” starved Roth Sochieata, Orm Bunthoeurn, national waters. Asia-Pacific of oxygen and life, we need to Soth Koemsoeun, Thou Vireak, Nov Sivutha nations were well represented discourage wasteful and pol- Photographers on the high level panel, by luting business models and Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea, Hean Rangsey leaders of Australia, Fiji, Indo- behaviours by making them Web Editor nesia, Japan and Palau. pay their fair share and Leang Phannara This signals new or strength- instead incentivise green Digital Team ened national policies that businesses. Countries such Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea, Suy Sovandy balance sustainable use of the as India and Singapore are SIEM REAP BUREAU ocean with the protection and implementing market-based Offi ce Manager Mangrove forests are a natural solution for both mitigating climate change, due to their ability to sequester carbon, restoration of the marine and and adapting to its impacts on the coast, providing flood mitigation benefits worth billions at a global scale. afp policy instruments to move Sophearith Blondeel coastal ecosystems so critical towards a more circular PRODUCTION & PRINTING to our region for jobs, eco- sustainable fishing future” ing and resource manage- trict, and in Japan’s Hinase economy where waste is Head of Desktop Publishing nomic wellbeing, food and package put commonwealth ment decisions. These ocean area of Bizen City. ‘designed out’ and products Nhim Sokphyrak coastal protection. If fully managed fisheries on a path accounts should include not Integrated policy frame- and materials are kept in use Desktop Publishing implemented, December’s to economic and environ- only what the ocean produc- works can extend to develop- for as long as possible. Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath pledge could kick-start an mental sustainability with es (like GDP), but also ocean ing strategic plans to guide Alappuzha, a coastal city in Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna unprecedented shift toward social safeguards to allow a income to account for bene- economic growth in an envi- Kerala state, India, was once ocean management, which is reduction in fishing capacity fits to people, and changes in ronmentally sound way and called “Venice of the East”

so vital to consolidate a sus- without setting workers adrift. ocean wealth, including eco- provide regulatory environ- until rubbish clogged its tainable and prosperous There’s a real possibility to systems like coral reefs or ments that build investor canals and drains. In 2014, the future for generations of peo- seize a competitive advantage fish populations, so to moni- confidence and reduce delays city addressed its growing HEAD OFFICE ple and marine ecosystems. by rechanneling harmful sub- tor sustainability. to sustainable ocean projects. waste problem by implement- Post Media Co., Ltd. There are five important sidies, such as fuel subsidies, Third, integrate policy Key to the effectiveness and ing a decentralised solid waste The Elements Condominium Level 7, measures that governments into low-footprint aquacul- frameworks. Policymakers sustainability of all these management system that Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, can do to achieve this. ture, especially plant-based. must reject fragmented sector- measures is that the policy Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom includes educational subsidies First, stop enabling over- Second, account for ocean based – and territorial – development process is genu- Penh, Cambodia for students to collect plastic fishing. Overfishing remains assets. The total value of the approaches that have failed Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 inely participatory and inclu- waste and a penalty for illegal one of the greatest threats to ocean is estimated at $24 tril- Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 and instead move towards fit- sive of communities, indige- dumping of plastics. ocean health. It is fuelled by Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 lion, yet it suffers from severe for-purpose governance, nous peoples, private sector Singapore has a “toward SIEM REAP policy that enables overca- underinvestment. In the last including policy and legisla- and different parts of govern- zero waste” commitment and No 629, Street 6, Dangkum Commune pacity and overfishing com- 10 years, only $13 billion has tion. There are a few examples ment, and based on science. will introduce policies to Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 bined with subsidies that dis- been invested in sustainable of large-scale integrated ocean Fourth, use the full suite of encourage sustainable pro- COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT tort the market. The projects through philanthropy management that work, such policy instruments. In addi- duction and consumption, Chief Operating Offi cer consequences are clearly and official development as the framework for the Great tion to necessary bans, rules with new initiatives includ- James Ong Soon Teck outlined in every report on assistance, and even less by Barrier Reef Marine Park. and environmental stand- ing Extended Producer Advertising Department declining fish stocks, and the the corporate sector. However, there are promis- ards, nations can employ Responsibility, starting with Chap Narith, 017 996 241 World Bank has assessed that The goods and services the ing frameworks under devel- market-based policy instru- electronic-waste in 2021. Hun Channet, 017 578 768 sustainable fisheries man- ocean provides our region are opment, such as Indonesia’s ments. For example, man- Fifth, become an ocean-first Prach Monnyreak, 015 239 293 agement generates more val- massively undervalued. For first national strategy on cir- grove forests are a natural region. Our planet’s one ocean Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 uable catches with lower lev- example, the significant ben- cular economy, which will solution for both mitigating connects us all. Inadequate Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 els of fishing effort. But efits of coastal ecosystems provide a framework for sus- climate change, due to their policy and insufficient efforts Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 entrenched interests make it such as coral reefs, coastal tainable management of nat- ability to sequester carbon, to safeguard the ocean’s natu- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION difficult for any nation to be wetlands and mangrove for- ural resources and waste and and adapting to its impacts ral capital that underpins our Acting Distribution Manager the first to right-size its fleet. ests that act as “natural buff- addressing climate change, on the coast, providing flood region’s economy and wellbe- Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Governments should set the ers” to storms are rarely quan- while boosting economic mitigation benefits worth bil- ing and delivers trillions of Circulation Supervisor course and support ecosys- tified and accounted for in growth and job creation. lions at a global scale. dollars to the global economy Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 tem-based fisheries manage- coastal protection, which There is also the growing This sequestration potential have fallen short. THE JAKARTA Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 ment. It is an important solu- means hazard mitigation and recognition of the importance for mangroves is particularly POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK ADMINISTRATION tion that supports nutrition budgetary decisions are being of local-level integrated policy high in Indonesia, and Indo- Admin & HR Manager and health needs. In 2005, made without fully recognis- frameworks being implement- nesia, Australia, Korea, Fiji and Ingrid van Wees is Asia Development Pich Socheat Australia has set a good exam- ing their value. ed across the region, such as in Papua New Guinea are all part Bank vice-president for finance and ple how to get there with a risk management in Manila, the Assistants Admin & HR Manager We recommend creation of Fiji through Community- of the International Partner- Philippines. John Tanzer is World Nhel Soaphea structural reform of its fisher- national ocean accounts to Based Integrated Land-Sea ship for Blue Carbon that Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Global Financial Director ies sectors. The “securing a properly inform policymak- Management in Kubulau Dis- seeks to promote and preserve Oceans leader in Brisbane, Australia. Heang Tangmeng Chief Accountant Sren Vicheka Treasurers Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun

TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co., Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co., Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co., Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle Women dragon dancers scale up ambitions in VN y day, Le Yen Quyen day which begins this week. Trailblazing works as a phar- Her baby daughter, who ac- As a Taekwondo black belt, macist at her local companies her to every session, Quyen already had the agil- health clinic in Viet- looks on from the sidelines. ity and power to excel at the nam’sB Mekong Delta. At night, Quyen, whose husband is dance, which has been per- she dances under the head of also a dancer in the troupe, formed for centuries – largely a lion on perilously high met- said: “To get good at lion by men – in Vietnam and oth- al poles, practising her moves dancing you have to be pa- er parts of Asia. ahead of Lunar New Year fes- tient . . . take risks. But to join, she had to over- tivities. “It was very difficult at the come resistance from the local Quyen, 27, was one of the beginning. I injured my hands community, who said it was first women to join the TuA nh and feet.” too challenging for a woman. Le Yen Quyen poses with her lion dance mask before a practice session at the Tu Anh Duong lion and dragon Duong lion and dragon dance Central to the routine are 21 It was her talent that even- dance school in Can Tho city on January 20. AFP troupe, where performers metal plinths, some standing at tually convinced them, said mimic the movements of the more than 2m, which dancers Quyen, who has won dozens women in the troupe. But gradually, I climbed high- try with her fellow dancers. creatures to bring good luck must jump between to symb- of gold medals at local and One of those is Luu Thi Kim er and higher day by day,” That is crucial for such a de- and dispel evil spirits. olise the challenging stages in national lion and dragon Thuong, 17, who signed up Thuong said. manding sport, she added. Evening after evening in the life that must be overcome. dance competitions. with four of her friends, de- “It took me three months to “We have to communicate, southern city of Can Tho, she Towering over them all is a “I am proud to be the per- spite a fear of heights. climb the high poles.” to understand each other. If perfects the stunts she will 7m pole – the ultimate spot to son who has inspired other “When I trained at the be- Training for two to three something is wrong, one of show off during Tet, the Viet- showcase the complex twists girls,” Quyen said, explain- ginning, I was scared . . . and I hours after school each day, she us has to say it out loud so we namese Lunar New Year holi- and turns of the lion dance. ing that there are now 20 couldn’t climb to the very top. said she has built great chemis- can fix it together.”AFP

At the Tu Anh Duong lion and dragon dance school, performers mimic the movements of the creatures to Le Yen Quyen poses with her one-year-old daughter before leaving for practice at the Tu Anh Duong lion and bring good luck and dispel evil spirits. AFP dragon dance school. AFP Opera singers help UK Covid patients to breathe easier

Sopranos and tenors have joined the The scheme, available for patients breathing and singing lullabies. fight against Covid-19 in Britain, helping eight to 12 weeks after their initial diag- Nine in 10 of those taking part in the patients struggling to shake off the dis- nosis, was created in partnership with pilot scheme reported positive improve- ease by teaching them breathing exer- Imperial College Healthcare NHS ment in their breathlessness and reduced cises to deal with respiratory problems Trust. anxiety. and anxiety. Patients suffering from “long Covid”, “It’s about taking the strain off the NHS After a successful six-week pilot, the whose symptoms include breathlessness [National Health Service], helping people English National Opera is now rolling out and anxiety in the weeks and months after get back to wellness more quickly,” said its “ENO Breathe” programme to 1,000 getting rid of the virus, can now join Zoom Jenny Mollica, head of the ENO’s learning patients, offering exercises involving sing- sessions with professional vocal special- and participation programme. ing, breath techniques and mindfulness ists to help their recovery. “If you are experiencing a moment of well-being practices. “It has been designed for and in our profound breathlessness and the associ- Sheeba, a participant in the pilot, said: current circumstances,” said Suzi Zumpe, ated anxiety there are some exercise you “The programme empowered me. creative director of ENO Breathe. can do to slow and regulate breathing and “I know how to deal with the breathless- “All the design is around being on Zoom. give your brain a chance to catch up,” she nesses brought on by the condition I had. It’s extraordinary how connected people added. “It was like a musical group therapy, feel on a digital platform.” Health minister Matt Hancock wel- everyone got on really well. I felt ‘OK, I’ve The singers teach patients how to comed the scheme “in helping those suf- got someone who can relate to me’,” she breathe deeply using techniques used in fering from the impact of this terrible A screenshot from a video How to warm up your voice posted on English said. the opera world, such as diaphragmatic virus”. AFP National Opera’s YouTube channel. SUPPLIED 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Car owners poses for a photo during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Urayasu, an eastern suburb of Tokyo. AFP They don’t make ‘em like they used to: Tokyo’s car collectors revel in classics ast and furious they omise on fuel and space and are more likely to appreciate a aren’t, but for a group rarely break down – a world car that requires lots of care,” of Japanese retro car away from the group’s pains- Wada said. enthusiasts, the sleek takingly maintained wheels. “Old engines often need linesF and high shine of their The casual society has 10 minutes or so to warm up old-school models hold a around 10 members and the before you can drive them. “NONE LEFT BEHIND” much more special charm. oldest cars they own are a That’s what’s really charming A loose club of fans rolls 1941 Cadillac and a restored about them.” ACROSS 53 Digital displays? 24 One in attendance up most weekends in central 1929 Ford Model-A. Wada, who runs a car valet 1 Dark orange-yellow 55 Go by bus 26 Prayerful assent Tokyo to show off their Ca- People cheer and take business near Tokyo, spends 6 Provider of a one-way ride 56 Park or 5th, briefly 27 “Puppy” or “true” follower dillacs, Chevrolets and other snaps as the cars go by, from three to four days on each 10 Rudimentary puppet 59 Individually 29 Makes high-pitched, whiny noises modern classic vehicles from the 1956 Ford F100 Pumpkin old-fashioned ride to give it a 14 Miss America’s topper 62 Horse’s trot 30 Pie ___ mode the mid to late 20th century. to the 1961 Volkswagen Kar- shiny new look. 15 Senate helper 63 Insurable item 31 Bert’s twin sister, in fiction “Each time I drive it, I still mann Ghia. He says his heart belongs 16 Old buffalo hunter 64 Do hair-raising work? 33 Large percussion instrument get a thrill. There aren’t many “The shape of old cars is to American vehicles includ- 17 “That’s enough!” 65 Fifth book of the New Testament 35 Dispose of vehicles that give you that very charming, impossible ing old police cars, which he 20 Homey, e.g. 66 Sledgehammer end 36 Unimaginably long time (Var.) feeling,” Masamune Isogai with today’s mass produc- rents out for film and photog- 21 Men’s business wear 67 Penned up, like pigs 37 Loosen, as a knot said of his Knight Rider rep- tion,” said Hiroyuki Wada, 49, raphy shoots. 22 Grapevine gossips DOWN 39 Prefix with “natal” or “classical” lica – a Pontiac Trans Am, the next to his red 1959 Cadillac “Someday, I want to valet old 23 One who deals with deals 1 “Give it ___” (putting tip) 40 Hold the title to car made famous by the hit Coupe de Ville. fire engines in the US. That’s 25 Draft beverage 2 Kunis of TV and film 41 Domesticated 1980s TV drama. “When you get older, you my dream,” he said. AFP 26 “Wait, there’s more” 3 Stabilized nautically 45 Tourist attractions Sliding into the driver’s seat 28 Service club since 1915 4 Make a boo-boo 46 Devout petition – which he calls the cockpit – 32 Bach composition 5 What strikers usually want 47 Fashion freshly he is surrounded by futuristic 34 Greenspan or Alda 6 French-speaking island 49 Writer Asimov displays, illuminated buttons 35 Letter from Greece? 7 Mooring post 50 Permitted by law and a wheel that looks like an 38 Occasionally 8 Flossing advocacy gp. 52 Witches’ brew creatures oversized gaming controller. 42 Homer’s TV neighbor 9 Put trust in, with “on” 53 Bygone Chevy These sci-fi touches were 43 Whimper like a baby 10 Shots on lots 54 Partner of crackle and pop installed to give the ride the 44 Many-stringed lute 11 Mount a soap box 55 Communion or baptism, e.g. 12 Iowa river with rapids look and feel of the show’s 45 Broadcast backer 57 Ming treasure 13 Singer Alicia 58 Wooed visually AI-powered talking car called 48 The “kissing disease” 18 Greasy residue 60 Tint or tone Knight Industries Two Thou- 49 Skater Kulik 19 Fixes the spine of, as a book 61 Butterfly snare sand, or KITT. 51 Keep up on the issues? “I speak to the car when I drive,” laughed the 46-year-old, Monday’s solution who has owned the stream- lined black vehicle – complete with sound effects and a “KITT scanner” light on the front – for around a decade. These days, Japan is known Hiroyuki Wada, who runs a vintage car service company, sits in a 1959 for its practical cars that econ- Cadillac Coupe DeVille after a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. AFP

Monday’s solution

Trucking company executive Yuji Nakayama poses for a photo in front of a 1941 Cadillac during a gathering of auto enthusiasts in Tokyo. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Australian Mbappe sprints PSG to shutout win Open tennis ylian Mbappe set Paris Saint-Germain on the way to a 2-0 win over troubled Grand Slam Marseille on Sunday, keep- ingK the reigning champions within three points of Ligue 1 leaders Lille begins at last who earlier recorded their sixth con- secutive victory. The Australian Open finally got un- Mbappe burst through at an in- der way at Melbourne Park on Mon- credible pace to give PSG the lead day, three weeks later than originally on the counter-attack in the ninth scheduled because of the coronavi- minute at the Stade Velodrome, with rus pandemic. Mauro Icardi adding a second for Japan’s Naomi Osaka, the third Mauricio Pochettino’s side. seed, struck the first serve of the tour- The victory was achieved despite nament on Rod Laver Arena against Neymar – who celebrated his 29th Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in birthday on Friday – only appearing the women’s singles as a second-half substitute having Serena Williams followed her on missed training with a stomach bug. court with men’s world number one PSG stay third in the Ligue 1 table, a Novak Djokovic playing in the night point behind Lyon and three adrift of session. Lille who won 2-0 at Nantes earlier. Veteran American Venus Williams Marseille finished with 10 men af- kicked off proceedings on the neigh- ter Dimitri Payet’s late sending-off, bouring main court, Margaret Court and are down in ninth having won Arena, against Kirsten Flipkens of just one of their last 11 games. Belgium in front of a sprinkling of ‘Le Classique’ is the biggest fixture fans, with crowd numbers limited to in French football, and the build-up 30,000 a day. to what was the 100th meeting of The tournament is known as the Marseille and PSG had been domi- “Happy Slam” for its convivial atmo- nated by events of the last week in sphere but the pandemic has cast the Mediterranean city. dark clouds over this year’s build-up. Marseille’s home game last week- Djokovic is going for a record- end against Rennes was postponed extending ninth Melbourne Park after several hundred supporters Marseille’s defender Alvaro Gonzalez (left) heads the ball with Paris Saint-Germain’s forward Kylian Mbappe during the French L1 crown, Serena Williams is still chas- football match at the Velodrome Stadium in Marseille on Sunday. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP attacked the club’s training ground, ing the major she needs to match and three days later Andre Villas- volved in a flashpoint with Alvaro. their sixth consecutive win. Margaret Court’s all-time mark of Boas was suspended by the club – Stunning sprint The Spaniard was lucky only to He pounced on a defensive mix-up 24 Grand Slams and Osaka is after the first step in the legal process of Ligue 1 top scorer Mbappe sprint- concede a corner rather than a pen- to put Lille in front early on and se- her second Australian Open title in sacking the Portuguese coach – after ed onto Angel di Maria’s pass to con- alty as he tried to stop the world’s cured the points with a fantastic sec- three years on the back of her US declaring at a press conference he trol and fire past Steve Mandanda most expensive player, but Alvaro ond seven minutes from time, play- Open win last year. wanted to resign. for the opener, his 16th of the sea- did jar his knee in the process and ing a one-two with Renato Sanches But while those are familiar themes, Nasser Larguet, the head of Mar- son. Broadcaster Canal Plus clocked came off soon after. before firing high into the net. the first Grand Slam of the year has a seille’s youth academy, took charge Mbappe’s stunning sprint at 36 kilo- The home side then had Payet sent Nantes are in the bottom three hav- different vibe, played in front of few- for Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Lens metres per hour. off for a high boot on Marco Verratti. ing gone 15 matches without a win, in- er spectators with mandatory mask- and was again on the bench for this Di Maria then hobbled off injured, cluding seven games under Raymond wearing and sanitising stations match. before Icardi made it 2-0 midway David double for Lille Domenech, the former France coach prominent in a zoned-off Melbourne The last league meeting of the through the first half. Canada’s Jonathan David contin- who was appointed in December. Park with spectators unable to move teams in September was won 1-0 by The Argentine got in front of Al- ued his recent scoring streak with a Earlier Aleksandr Golovin scored a freely around the grounds. Marseille but was marred by five late varo to meet Alessandro Florenzi’s brace as Lille saw off Nantes to re- hat-trick on his first start since Au- Australia has largely contained the vi- red cards, including for Neymar. The cross, the ball coming off the back of claim top spot from Lyon, who beat gust after injury as Monaco defeated rus, but officials are desperate to avoid Brazilian also later accused Marseille his neck and looping into the net. Strasbourg 3-0 on Saturday. bottom club Nimes 4-3 to extend further problems from Covid-19. defender Alvaro Gonzalez of racism, Icardi was replaced by Neymar mid- David netted before and after the their winning run to seven matches. Preparations had to be hastily rear- although no action was taken due to way through the second half, with the break to take his tally to five goals Golovin also set up Kevin Volland for ranged as late as last Wednesday when a lack of evidence. Brazilian immediately becoming in- in as many games and hand Lille Monaco’s fourth goal. AFP a coronavirus case at a tournament hotel – the city’s first local infection in 28 days – forced a suspension of play. Hundreds of players and officials were tested and all were negative. Serena Williams, the 10th seed, be- ‘Exceptional’ Ibrahimovic nets 500th goal gins her campaign against Laura Siege- mund of Germany, four years after the Zlatan Ibrahimovic broke the 500- ing to see who arrives first (at training), possible way. My job is to score and He has scored 14 league goals in American great’s last Grand Slam vic- mark for career club goals with a and obviously he’s among them.” create situations to score.” 11 games this season having been tory, when she was pregnant. brace on Sunday as AC Milan held Ante Rebic turned the game into Ibrahimovic reached the landmark sidelined with coronavirus and inju- Djokovic begins against world top spot in Serie A with a 4-0 win a comprehensive win with a quick- in 825 games, having played for three ry, two short of top scorer Cristiano number 66 Jeremy Chardy, having over lowly Crotone. fire brace of his own past Crotone Serie A sides – Juventus, Inter and Mi- Ronaldo, who turned 36 on Friday. never lost to the Frenchman in 13 “It’s difficult to be surprised by goalkeeper Alex Cordaz. lan – as well as Paris Saint-Germain, With 116 games for Sweden and previous meetings. Ibrahimovic,” said Milan coach Ste- The Croatian headed in a Hakan Manchester United, Barcelona, Ajax 62 goals, Ibrahimovic is the all-time US Open winner Dominic Thiem, fano Pioli of the 39-year-old who is Calhanoglu corner in the 69th min- and Los Angeles Galaxy. leading scorer for the Swedish na- runner-up in Australia last year to powering his team’s bid for a first ute and then seconds later turned in He has now scored 396 league tional team. Djokovic, Germany rising star Alex- ‘Scudetto’ since 2011. a rebound after Cordaz kept out an goals, 57 in European competitions He started his career at Malmo ander Zverev and former champion Milan moved back two points Ibrahimovic strike. and 48 in cup games. before going on to play for Ajax, Ju- Stan Wawrinka are all in action on ahead of city rivals Inter Milan “The Scudetto? The decisive match- The former Sweden striker returned ventus, Inter, Barcelona, Milan, PSG the first day. who had pulled ahead after a 2-0 es will come later, now we have to to Milan in January 2020 and has scored and Manchester United, winning So is women’s world number two win over Fiorentina on Friday, with withstand all the pressures which is a 27 goals in 37 appearances since. trophies with all these clubs. AFP Simona Halep, who has been bat- champions Juventus a further five privilege to have,” continued Pioli. tling a back injury which hampered back in third after beating Roma by “The top seven are all capable of her preparations. She will open the the same scoreline on Saturday. fighting for the title and the first four evening session on Rod Laver against Ibrahimovic opened the scoring places. Australian wild card Lizette Cabrera. on the half hour at the San Siro after “Our goal is to expect the best and Combustible Australian Nick Kyr- combining with Rafael Leao for his win every single match. gios begins his campaign on his fa- 500th club strike. “It’s not yet time to look too much vourite John Cain Arena, where he And the Swede brought his tally to at the table, a challenging period will has raucous support, against Portu- 501 in the 64th minute, finishing off come with many matches and the Eu- gal’s Frederico Ferreira Silva. a Theo Hernandez cross for his 83rd ropa League is about to start again.” Kyrgios last week smashed a rac- Milan goal. quet and threw it out of the stadium “To hold up at this level means ‘My job is to score’ during a warm-up defeat. you’re an exceptional professional Ibrahimovic showed his incred- Before that he had labelled Djokovic and he’s helped by a physique that ible form 22 years after making his a “tool” for demanding better condi- few have,” continued Pioli. professional debut for Swedish club tions for players during quarantine. “He’s a champion, an athlete who Malmo in 1999. Top women’s seed Ashleigh Barty, has great motivation, he takes care “It means that I have scored a few defending champion Sofia Kenin of his body scrupulously. Sometimes goals in my career,” said the Swede, and 20-time men’s singles Grand he’s tired, but he never fails.” who was substituted off with 15 Slam champion Rafael Nadal all to minutes to go. “He’s helping the team to grow a lot. AC Milan’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores the opening goal past Crotone’s goalkeeper begin their challenge for this year’s “I have frankly never seen him go “The important thing is to con- Alex Cordaz during the Italian serie A football match on Sunday at the San Siro stadium in Australian Open on Tuesday’s sec- wrong. Now the players are compet- tinue to help the team in the best Milan. MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP ond day. AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST february 9, 2021 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport Man City tie record with 14th straight win

anchester City Kane back in style left Liverpool’s Jose Mourinho admitted title defence in Tottenham “depend” on Kane tatters as Ilkay after the Tottenham striker MGundogan’s double and two delivered a dominant display costly mistakes from Alisson on his return from injury. Becker inspired the Premier Mourinho’s side had lost League leaders’ dazzling 4-1 their previous three Premier win, while Harry Kane starred League games to put their top in Tottenham’s 2-0 victory four hopes in peril. against West Bromwich Albion Revitalised by Kane’s earlier on Sunday. than expected return from Inspired by Gundogan’s an ankle problem suffered goals and Phil Foden’s stylish against Liverpool, Tottenham display, City moved 10 points got back to winning ways just clear of fourth-placed Liv- when the under-fire Mourin- erpool after their first win at ho needed it most. Anfield since 2003. Kane’s 20th goal in all com- The troubled champions petitions this season took were blown away by Pep him to 208 goals – level in Guardiola’s side, who became joint second place alongside the first team to score four Bobby Smith in the club’s all- times in a league game away time scoring list. to Liverpool in 12 years. The England captain’s mile- City hold a five-point lead stone goal was followed by a over second placed Man- Son Heung-min strike mo- chester United and have a ments later. game in hand on their local Chelsea made it three suc- rivals as they eye a third title cessive wins for new boss in four seasons. Thomas Tuchel as Jorginho’s They have won 14 successive penalty clinched a 2-1 victory games in all competitions to at Sheffield United. equal the record for an English Tuchel, who drew his first top-flight club, set by Preston game in charge after replac- in 1892 and Arsenal in 1987. ing Frank Lampard, watched “We have done brilliantly as Mason Mount fired Chel- so I cannot deny how happy sea ahead from Timo Werner’s we are. To come here and fi- 43rd minute pass. nally win, it’s very important,” Antonio Rudiger’s 55th Guardiola said. Manchester City’s midfielder Raheem Sterling (second right) vies with Liverpool’s midfielder Fabinho (second left) and defender Trent Alexander- minute own goal didn’t faze “I’m so grateful to my players Arnold (right) during the English Premier League football match at Anfield on Sunday.Jon Super / POOL/AFP Chelsea and Jorginho netted but this is now the past. In Feb- from the spot three minutes ruary no one is champions.” but it could be,” said coach got back in Guardiola’s good to do it as he shot high into Alisson’s nightmare wasn’t later after Blades keeper Aar- Liverpool are in disarray af- Jurgen Klopp of the two poor books in the 49th minute with a the net for his 22nd goal this over and in the 76th minute on Ramsdale fouled Werner. ter losing three consecutive clearances from Alisson that close-range finish afterF oden’s season. he again conceded posses- Tuchel’s team are up to fifth home league games for the led to City goals. shot was parried into his path. Alisson made an even big- sion with a woeful pass. place, just one point behind first time since 1963. “They used them and 3-1 Liverpool were gifted a pen- ger mistake than Dias in the This time, Bernardo Silva was Liverpool. They have won just two of down in a game like this, alty in the 63rd minute after 73rd minute when the Liver- the beneficiary and he chipped “The type of football is their last nine league match- when you are that long level, City defender Ruben Dias al- pool keeper’s sloppy pass was a cross to Sterling, who headed physical and tougher and es as injuries and fatigue take it is tough to take.” lowed Mohamed Salah to latch intercepted by Foden. into the empty net. there is a lot of quality. Dur- their toll. Gundogan blasted a 38th onto Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Foden made a superb run England midfielder Foden ing matches it never stops,” “We made two massive mis- minute penalty into the Kop long pass and responded by through the heart of the Liv- capped the rout in the 83rd said Tuchel of his early days takes, that is clear. There is not after Fabinho’s trip on Ra- pulling him down. erpool defence before cutting minute, cut in from the right in England. a real explanation. Maybe he heem Sterling. Salah took the penalty him- back for Gundogan to finish to blast past the shell-shocked Leicester remain third after had cold feet? It sounds funny But the Germany midfielder self, showing Gundogan how from virtually on the line. Alisson. a 0-0 draw at Wolves. AFP Morocco defeat Mali for back-to-back championships

Morocco became the first back- Mali had managed just one goal Zniti blocked a shot with his right defender to break the deadlock with with a brave close-range header and to-back winners of the African in their last three outings, elimi- foot and then grasped the ball to the Bouftini putting Morocco in front by Mali were reduced to 10 men in stop- Nations Championship (CHAN) nating Congo Brazzaville and relief of his defenders, who had been heading a corner wide of Diarra. page time when Samake was sent off when they scored twice after cor- Guinea in penalty shootouts after caught cold by a quick lofted pass. El Kaabi put the issue beyond doubt after a second yellow card. AFP ners to defeat Mali 2-0 in the final goalless quarter-final and semi- Kone came close again when his in Yaounde on Sunday. final stalemates. header flew narrowly wide at the Soufiane Bouftini broke the dead- Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi began 40,0000-capacity Stade Ahmadou lock at 69 minutes and captain Ayoub the final as the leading scorer with Ahidjo, where the crowd was restrict- el Kaabi doubled the lead 10 minutes five goals, and Malian Issaka Samake ed to 10,000 because of the corona- later to create history after Morocco was yellow carded after only six min- virus pandemic. hosted and won the previous edition utes for hacking down the Golden The first half ended 0-0 and Mali three years ago. Boot chart-topper. coach Nouhoum Diane would have It was the second CHAN final loss When Rahimi was fouled a third been happier than Moroccan coun- for Mali, after 2016, and they are still time, just outside the box, Morocco terpart Houcine Ammouta as the seeking a first Confederation of Afri- nearly went ahead from the resultant west Africans had largely nullified the can Football (CAF) senior national free-kick, which goalkeeper Djigui threat of Rahimi. team success. Diarra parried and the loose ball was A long VAR delay 10 minutes into Morocco won five of six matches at hastily cleared. the second half ended with Moroccan a tournament reserved for home- appeals for a penalty being denied based players, scored 15 goals and Missed a great chance and almost immediately Malian conceded three. Moussa Kone missed a great Sadio Kanoute nodded just wide fol- The north Africans went into the chance to put Mali in front midway lowing a free-kick. title decider as favourites having through the opening half when he Kone had another chance to break scored 12 goals against Uganda, went one-on-one with goalkeeper the deadlock midway through the sec- The Morocco team celebrate after winning the African Nations Championship (CHAN) Zambia and hosts Cameroon in their Anas Zniti, one of two survivors ond half but fired straight at Zniti. final football match between Morocco and Mali at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde, previous three matches. from the 2018 winning team. In a tight, physical clash it took a Cameroon, on Sunday. Daniel BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP