N U MB E R 3420 ssue I wednesday, may 13, 2020 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent www.phnompenhpost.com 4000 RIEL

Mondulkiri UNDP, KE to train Retrenchments tourism plan Kingdom’s young for Indonesia’s to go forward entrepreneurs textile sector national – page 4 business – page 6 world – page 10 Soldier kills wife, woman, commits suicide

Kim Sarom Kan and his deceased wife as 50-year- five grandchildren as hostages. Kan was unaware that the woman up” and fatally shot himself. old Nget Ren. The second victim was When Kan entered a different and her grandchildren had escaped Beng commune police chief Chhoe- A SOLDIER shot and killed his wife 30-year-old Lach Taingsmak. room of the house, the woman the house. ung Chbab said on Tuesday that a Bri- and that of another soldier on Mon- Kan belonged to Battalion 243 of escaped with her grandchildren and At around 7pm, soldiers broke into gade 243 report said Kan had driven Ren day before fleeing to a forest on foot Intervention Brigade 4. reported the incident to the police. the house only to find Kan missing. to Taingsmak’s home on Monday. and eventually killing himself in a “The soldier fatally shot himself Phin said after receiving the They then searched the nearby forest. According to the report, Kan could be standoff with the military. because he refused to surrender him- report, soldiers from Battalion 243 The search for Kan continued until heard arguing with Ren, and a few The crime took place at Interven- self to the unit,” Phin said. surrounded the house, called Kan 1pm on Tuesday. After finding his moments later two gunshots were heard. tion Brigade 4’s compound in Beng According to witnesses, Kan fled to and demanded his surrender. footprints, Kan who was nearby start- Chbab said at the scene of the commune, Banteay Ampil district, a wooden house about 50m away after Kan allegedly replied: “Don’t come ed firing his weapon at the soldiers. accident, two women were found Oddar Meanchey province. murdering Ren and Taingsmak. in, I don’t care about the young chil- The soldiers attempted to per- dead and covered in blood not far District police chief Khul Phin iden- While hiding in the house, Kan held dren, or the old lady, if you dare try suade him to surrender, but he alleg- from each other. Both victims had tified the soldier as 55-year-old Soeun a 70-year-old woman and her four to to get in, I will kill them all.” edly shouted: “I will not give myself been shot in the chest. Committee set to tackle crowding in prisons Voun Dara paign [as it goes forward],” he said. Ministry of Justice spokesman INISTER of Justice Chin Malin who is also a member Koeut Rith on Monday of the committee said on Tuesday announced the crea- that detailed plans will be revealed tion of a court com- next Monday. Child alert Mmission made up of four working “At that time we will make clear the A boy sits in a hammock attached to a cart in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district. Planning minister Chhay Than has told officials to monitor the process of identifying poor families who can receive aid during the pandemic.HONG MENEA sTORY > 3 groups to tackle the issue of over- rules and mechanics of the pro- crowding in prisons. gramme, practice actors, expected Rith will serve as committee director results and implementation period. and will be joined by secretaries of “The creation of this committee state Chan Sotheavy and Prum Sithtra is to carry out this campaign and its as deputies, and five other secretaries purpose is to solve the issue of over- California inmates want Covid-19 of state at the ministry as members. crowding in prisons.” The committee will be tasked Malin said Rith will chair the Mon- A GROUP of California, US, prison- of our jail environment – and that’s prisoners were released in a pre- with issuing guidelines, rules and day meeting although, if necessary, it ers tried to infect themselves with not going to happen,” said county emptive measure to avoid a cata- action plan necessary to imple- could be led by a deputy director. He the new coronavirus in a futile bid sheriff Alex Villanueva. strophic Covid-19 outbreak. ment effective campaigns to clear said the ministry could use its seal to win freedom, a senior police offi- Some 21 prisoners tested positive Still, 357 prisoners have tested a backlog of cases at each munici- and budget to fulfil the duties of the cial said on Monday. in the prison section where the video positive in the county, which has the pal and provincial court. committee. He said the four working Inmates at a facility in Castaic, north was shot “as a result of the behav- US’ largest prison population. “This campaign will contribute to groups will deploy members to each of Los Angeles, were filmed sharing a iour”, he added. The footage was “just a sampling of improving the institutional capacity municipal and provincial court. disposable cup and sniffing a used The activity came to light as prison the many other videos being reviewed and improve the judicial service as well “We will conduct the campaign by face mask while crowded together. officials investigated a broader spike in and used in the ongoing investiga- as reduce overcrowding in prisons. dividing responsible areas at each “Somehow, there was some mis- Covid-19 cases behind bars, with nearly tion”, said John Satterfield, a lieuten- “The committee will also issue court,” he said. taken belief among the inmate popu- 40 per cent of those incarcerated in Los ant in the sheriff’s department. solutions to the challenges arising Secretary of state Kim Santepheap lation that if they tested positive, that Angeles County now in quarantine. It was not clear how the outbreak from its implementation and follow there was a way to force our hand and Los Angeles County currently has at the North County Correctional up, check and evaluate the cam- Continued – page 3 somehow release more inmates out 11,700 inmates, after more than 5,000 Facility in Castaic began. AFP

one month’s free VIP subscription Young Cambodians THE PHNOM PENH POST build educational app Lifestyle Inside page 12 For the first 1,000 Phnom Penh Post KeeDu for children readers who register! 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National Repair of Red Temple nearing completion Soth Koemsoeun wall and all the sculptures in the temple. Overall, we have THE director of the Apsara Na- achieved over 80 per cent of tional Authority’s (ANA) depart- the work. After the completion ment of conservation outside of this project, we will contin- Angkor Archaeological Park ue to repair other temples in Chhean Rotha said on Tuesday Phnom Kulen,” Rotha said. that his team has completed 80 Apsara technical repair of- per cent of the planned restora- ficial Leu Chan Nora, said tion of Kraham Temple. on Tuesday that the Kraham Experts claim the temple was Temple is a sandstone brick built in the 9th century during building dedicated to the the reign of Jayavarman II. Hindu god Shiva. He said the team has excavat- It is located at Phnom Kulen ed areas in search of sculptures National Park, 370m above sea and art pieces as well as cleared level and 14km from the Giant plants and trees from the walls Buddha statue. The site is home and roof of the temple. to two temples – Kraham Tem- They’ve also repaired parts ple I and Kraham Temple II. of the walls and roof, but Rotha Before the renovation, Chan said he will need to request a Nora said Kraham Temple second round of renovations I was partially destroyed by to fully complete the work. trees and roots which grew The main goals of the sec- into its structure. Its roofs and ond project, he said, are to walls were dilapidated and fully repair the temple’s roof the temple’s bricks were cor- and repair additional artwork roded by age and weather. found around the temple. Past excavations, which He also wants to repair the had been carried out with Interior minister Sar Kheng said the police officials showed a lack of leadership and failed to carry out their duties. Hean Rangsey temple’s lingam and yoni, a the intent of stealing parts of symbolic religious structure the temple, had damaged its which pays homage to the foundations which support- Hindu god Shiva and repre- ed the lingam and yoni. Parts sents the unity of the male of the lingam and yoni were Sar Kheng warns K Chhnang and female essence. scattered on the ground. “The Kraham temple is ex- Rodents and other animals tremely dilapidated. The team had also started to live within cleaned the inside and outside the crevices of the temple. top police officials to buck up of the temple area, removed “All these factors created an the plants, cut down trees and urgent need for repair in or- Long Kimmarita Resource Department Im So- Tuesday that the five officials Asked why they were began to repair the temple. der to restore it,” Chan Nora koeurn, deputy provincial police had committed mistakes in warned, Lou said that the “After that, we repaired the said. INISTER of In- chief in charge of the Criminal their work. He said the warn- warning was attributed to terior Sar Kheng Investigations Department Tith ing was the first step and the frictions in internal affairs. issued five dis- Samnang and provincial traffic officials will be allowed to He said the officials have re- ciplinary letters police chief Rum Sovichea. correct their behaviour. sponded to the warnings and Mdated March 26 to the Kam- “Those named must correct If they make further serious have started to perform well pong Thom provincial police their wrongdoing. If they fail to mistakes that can’t be forgiven, again. chief, deputy police chiefs do so, the National Police force they will be removed from their “It has nothing to do with and officers under their com- will take further disciplinary positions, Kim Khoeun said. traffic law implementation or mand for showing a lack of action,” one of the letters said. The five officials could not anything else. I’m glad that he leadership and failing to car- It was the first time the of- be reached for comment on [Sar Kheng] admonished the ry out their duties, it was re- ficials had been warned. Tuesday. officials. vealed on Tuesday. The head of the ministry’s Provincial governor Sok “Admonishing these offi- Those warned were provin- personnel department Pen Lou said on Tuesday that the cials is not only a warning for cial police chief Ouk Kosal, Vibol told The Post on Tues- officials had not made sig- Kampong Thom provincial provincial deputy police chief day that the letters were re- nificant mistakes but they officials but also for officials in charge of the Anti-Economic leased by his department on had not performed their work nationwide. They must have Crime Department Va Chanko- Sar Kheng’s orders. well. He said this warning was internal unity, strengthen sal, provincial deputy police National Police spokesman a message to persuade them discipline and handle their Experts claim the temple was built in the 9th century during the reign chief in charge of the Human Chhay Kim Khoeun said on to change their ways. work,” he said. of Jayavarman II. apsara national authority Diplomats stream to visit Sokha

Niem Chheng French ambassador Eva Nguy- ries as of Tuesday. by foreign diplomats reflect en-Binh on Tuesday at Sokha’s On Monday, Sokha said on their support for the Hun Sen- AFTER meeting with Prime residence in the capital’s Tuol his Facebook page that Berger Sokha meeting. Minister Hun Sen last week, Kork district. applauded their meeting and Phea said they wanted to see former opposition leader Kem On Monday, Sokha met Ger- regarded it as “positive”. Cambodian politicians show Sokha has been receiving visits man ambassador Christian He said they talked about the that they can compromise and and messages from ambassa- Berger and EU ambassador to Cambodian people’s fight solve problems through nego- dors from Western countries Cambodia Carmen Moreno. against Covid-19 and future tiation. He said the public over the past two days. None of the ambassadors situations. seemed to appreciate the The latest visit was from responded to The Post’s que- It is not known what Hun meeting as well. Sen and Sokha discussed at But he warned that the for- their May 5 meeting, but eign ambassadors’ visits to Sokha’s cabinet chief Muth Sokha could also cause nega- Chantha said their discussion tive reactions. touched on the interests of the “If they met him with a polit- nation and its people. ical agenda which can be One of Sokha’s defence law- interpreted as interfering with yers, Chan Chen, who was Cambodia’s affairs, then it present at the meeting, could change the situation declined to reveal what Hun from good be bad. Sen and Sokha discussed. “We have to bear in mind He said the meeting between that Kem Sokha has been the Cambodian politicians “is charged with treason or con- what the Cambodian and spiracy with a foreign power. international community If the visits can be seen as wants to see happen”. conspiring or have a hidden Royal Academy of Cambo- agenda, it would be hard to dia’s International Relations come to a compromise after Kem Sokha meets French ambassador Eva Nguyen Binh at his residence Institute director Kin Phea [Sokha’s] court case is over,” in the capital’s Tuol Kork district on Tuesday. supplied said on Tuesday that the visits Phea said. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 3 National Police spokesman Government analyses poor, denies news report, aims to offer financial aid threatens legal action

Ry Sochan Soth Koemsoeun lish a corrected version. If the news outlet refuses, he said INISTER of NATIONAL Military Police he would file a complaint to Planning Chhay spokesman Eng Hy on Mon- the Ministry of Information. Than has told day denied a news report that Svay Rieng provincial Depart- all city and pro- Svay Rieng Military Police were ment of Agriculture, Forestry Mvincial governors to closely extorting money when they and Fisheries director Thach monitor the process of iden- stopped seven lorries on April 13 Ratana could not be reached tifying poor families to help for transporting charcoal across for comment on Tuesday. ensure they can receive fi- the border for sale in Vietnam. Svay Rieng provincial Forest- nancial assistance during Hy said Military Police ry Administration director Kol the Covid-19 pandemic. stopped the lorries for deliv- Sovann refused to comment on Than was speaking dur- ering forest product without Tuesday. LSN.TV producer Los ing the opening of a training permission from the forestry Seng was also not available. course on May 11 at Kep Pro- administration under Article The LSN.TV reporter inter- vincial Hall. The course was or- 69 of the Law on Forestry. viewed one of the seven lorry ganised to improve the process According to Article 78 of owners on Monday. The own- of identifying poor families. the Law on Forestry, Svay er said that Svay Rieng Mili- The ministry quoted a Fa- Rieng military police can de- tary Police detained the lor- cebook post by Than made tain offenders and retrieve ev- ries while they were delivering on the same day: “I would like idence to send to the Forestry charcoal to sell in Vietnam. to request His Excellencies to Administration. In this case, Authorities said the men cooperate on and monitor this the haul was 1,389 sacks of did not have a charcoal busi- work regularly to avoid reac- charcoal weighing 56,130kg. ness document, but the own- tions from the people when Minister of Planning Chhay Than wants to streamline the process of identifying poor families in need during The police handed over er said he did not know that the Royal Government of the Covid-19 pandemic. supplied the case and the evidence to delivering charcoal required Cambodia starts implement- Romeas Hek Forestry Admin- those documents. ing intervention offerings. areas until the end of June. sure we have updates first, so Chey said he wants local istration director Neth Kok, but He said he tried to negotiate “We found that some peo- The ministry also monitors we can intervene immediately authorities to speak up truth- he didn’t have enough storage with the police but they sent the ple were not interested in cases of families rising out of during the Covid-19 period. fully to make sure the right space so it was requested that case to the Forestry Administra- benefits when we interviewed poverty, which would exclude “There is no time to post- families are being helped. the evidence be kept tempo- tion and the court. The court them, but when they needed them from getting benefits. pone, we need to have the He said he is concerned that rarily at the Svay Rieng Military required them to pay 10 million them or saw their neighbours Ministry spokesman Nop policy planned by the end of local authorities were hiding Police headquarters, said Hy. riel and they still did not get the in the village receive benefits, Kornavuth told The Post on May,” he said. information and are not be- LSN.TV reported: “Svay Rieng lorries back, he said. they react,” Than said in the Tuesday that the ministry be- The executive director of ing transparent because of Military Police detained lorries “We are poor [people] who Facebook post. lieved in this collaboration re- Cambodia-based Affiliated the fear of losing face. delivering charcoal, accused have a small charcoal busi- He said that according to quest and said this work was Network for Social Account- “We want to be able to rec- the drivers of illegal offence, ness and we borrowed from government guidelines, the “absolutely necessary” because ability San Chey told The Post ognise the facts regarding the fined each person 10 million the bank to buy the lorry. ministry will continue up- it is the government’s policy. on Tuesday that the identi- identity of the poor. If the riel and did not give the lorries When the authorities take the dating data concerning poor “It must be done. But we fication of the poor should problem is clear, we can tar- back. Please help to share.” lorries like that, how can we families in rural areas until don’t know about the results take place in a transparent get the problems and address Hy has requested that LSN. make money to pay the bank the end of May and in urban yet. This process is just to make manner. them properly,” he said. TV change its report and pub- back,” the owner asked. Officials planning to Officials questioned over land deal solve prison crowding Khouth Sophak Chakrya

Continued from page 1 Meanchey, Siem Reap, Pailin, FIVE Phnom Srok district officials were Battambang, Oddar Meanchey called before the Banteay Meanchey Pro- will head the first working and Pursat. vincial Administration to explain accu- group along with a deputy and Malin will oversee the fourth sations that they were attempting to sell another 21 members. The with 11 members and will state land in the protected Ang Trapaing group is in charge of imple- implement changes at the pro- Thmar area that included land belong- menting the campaign at the vincial courts of Kampong ing to security offices and three armed Phnom Penh Municipal Court Speu, Takeo, Preah Sihanouk, forces units, a court spokesman said. and the Kandal, Prey Veng and Kampot and Koh Kong. Deputy provincial governor Ly Sary Svay Rieng provincial courts. Each is charged with imple- identified the officials as Phnom Srok The second working group menting guidelines, action district deputy governor Sao Len, chief of will be led by secretary of state plans and other decisions land management office Phnom Srok dis- Long Chorin and include 14 issued by the committee and trict Tang Phan, and Poy Char commune members. It will oversee the collect all necessary data and chief Khouth Khoun. The other two offi- provincial courts of Kampong information related to case cials are Sok Rithy and Thoun Lamhinh. Thom, Kampong Cham, classification of each munici- Besides the five, the provincial admin- Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Kra- pal and provincial court. istration plans to call other related indi- tie, Stung Treng, Tbong Each will determine pri- viduals to explain the issue. Khmum and Preah Vihear. orities for solving cases and “After questioning these five officers, Secretary of state Chiv Song follow up to push and solve the provincial administration has al- Officials came under fire for allegedly planning to sell land in the protected Ang Trapaing Thmar Hak is in charge of the third the actual challenges facing lowed them to go back to work,” the area in Banteay Meanchey province. supplied working group along with 12 the courts. They will also court spokesman said. members with jurisdiction implement other duties as The five were brought in after the good thing because the truth came out. said he therefore knew that corrupt officials over the provincial courts of instructed by the director, heads of the district police, Military “I explained to the Banteay Meanchey sold the land to outside business people. Kampong Chhnang, Banteay Malin said. Police and military claimed that depu- Provincial Administration already and “After that Phnom Srok deputy mili- ty district governor Yim Samnang had we gave a report and other documents tary commander Yin Kunthak and colluded with the land management related to development,” he said. district police chief Yorth Sophal and chief, residents and outside business Khoun said since the Ang Trapaing I made the report to the provincial ad- people to fill a pond and sell a 36m by Thma became a popular recreational ministration for intervention to protect 92m swath of property that includes area for national and international the location for security offices because the offices located in Poy Char com- tourists, the locals have become better it is state land,” he said. mune, Phnom Srok district. off. He said houses have improved and “We demand to protect this location Phnom Srok district governor Yim Sam- some people put soil on their land to for security offices and not for sale to nang told The Post on Tuesday that there prevent flood in the rainy season. any individuals,” he said. “We want the is no such case of selling the offices and Phnom Srok Military Police chief Sin provincial administration to investigate removing the Trapaing Thmar reservoir. Deab told The Post that the location was carefully and transparently.” “I was shocked to hear this news,” given to security forces by the previous Banteay Meanchey deputy governor Ly Samnang said. The locations reported Phnom Srok governor, Seng Ty, in 2012 Sari who called Phnom Srok administra- are land that belongs to residents not to build offices for officers to provide tion officers in for questioning told The the units,” he said. security to tourists. Post on Tuesday that provincial adminis- Poy Char commune chief Khoun told The Deab said that last year people came to tration is proceeding with legal procedure Four committees were formed to clear court cases in an attempt to solve Post that the report was not true but ques- fill the land by saying that they bought it to question and further investigate the the issue of overcrowding in prisons. preah sihanouk provincial prison tioning from provincial administration is a and had permission from authorities. He case but is not accusing any officers yet. 4 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com National PM urges vigilance as another Covid-19 patient discharged

Khorn Savi sentative in Cambodia Dr Li Ailan warned that opening AS ANOTHER Covid-19 pa- the economy too fast com- tient recovered, Prime Min- bined with people’s lack of ister Hun Sen again appealed vigilance could make Cam- to citizens to remain vigilant bodia susceptible to a large- against the disease. scale infection in the future. The Ministry of Health an- Vandine also confirmed nounced on Tuesday that a at the press conference that 75-year-old patient recovered Cambodia has yet to escape from Covid-19 in Kampong the threat of Covid-19. She Chhnang province. urged people to continue The patient, who also suf- practising social distancing. fered from high blood pres- She emphasised that the sure and diabetes, was dis- ministry’s regulations and charged from the hospital measures remained in effect after two Covid-19 tests re- and were yet to be relaxed. The ministry will begin issuing fines to owners of cars with overdue inspection dates at a rate of 2,000 riel ($0.50) per overdue day. Hong Menea turned negative. “In the meantime, we will In a Facebook post on Tues- strengthen [the measures] day, Hun Sen said the world further to organise the medi- is still concerned about the cal system to ensure we are Covid-19 pandemic because, ready if there is a second Ministry: 60 per cent of cars in the blink of an eye, the spread,” she said. number of cases had risen to Meantime, the Chinese more than four million. Embassy in Cambodia an- The post further said that nounced on Tuesday that on the road not inspected though Cambodia had not medical materials for Covid- detected new cases for nearly 19 arrived from China on the Khorn Savi have delayed fines for out-of- cyclists were issued because Yan said that the govern- a month, people had to be nights of May 11 and 13. date vehicles after observing they didn’t wear helmets. ment had given vehicle own- vigilant and follow the minis- The embassy said the ma- FFICIALS from the people rushing to get their Motorcyclists riding without ers four months to fulfil their try’s guidance. terials included 50,016 test Ministry of Public cars inspected, causing traffic licence plates accounted for 10 obligations properly accord- “In our country, though kits, 18,000 sets of protective Works and Trans- jams at their entrances. per cent of the fines and dis- ing to the law. many have recovered and suits, 30,000 goggles and 200 port said 60 per Vorn said since the new obeying traffic lights and signs “[I] would like to inform there have not been new cas- temperature scanners. centO of cars on the road have sub-decree was implemented made up eight per cent. that the tightening of traffic es, people must remain vigi- China will continue donat- not been inspected and start- on May 1, masses of people The last two per cent of mo- laws continues unabated be- lant and practice regular hy- ing aid in the form of protec- ing July 1, the ministry will had started taking their cars torcyclists were issued fines cause the National Road Safe- giene such as frequent hand tive suits, facemasks and oth- begin issuing fines to owners to inspection shops. for riding while talking on the ty Committee and the Royal washing and wearing face- er materials in support of the of cars with overdue inspec- Officials have had to work on phone, riding while carrying government alike determined masks or scarves,” he said. effort to stem the virus. tion dates at a rate of 2,000 the weekend and late at night excessive items and riding un- that this year is the year to en- A notice released by the At the press conference, riel ($0.50) per overdue day. to keep up with the requests. der the influence of alcohol. force the law,” Yan said. ministry confirmed that the Vandine said the female Department of Land Trans- He suggested that motor- He said 48 per cent of mo- In the first week of May, 43 75-year-old man in Kam- Covid-19 patient was the last port director-general Choun ists get their cars inspected torists were fined for not traffic accidents were recorded pong Chhnang and a fe- known case of the disease in Vorn said at a press confer- before the July 1 deadline, be- wearing seat belts and 26 per – a decline of 54 per cent from male patient from Banteay the Kingdom. ence on Tuesday that the total cause after that, they will start cent were fined for exceed- last year. And out of them, there Meanchey province who She said it took a long time number of registered vehicles to be fined. ing the speed limit. were 24 fatalities – a decline of were both treated for Covid- for the patient to recover as with the ministry is close to National Police deputy chief Disobeying traffic signs, over- 40 per cent from last year. 19 were referred to Khmer– she suffered from psychologi- six million, 80 per cent of and secretary-general of the loading vehicles, and using The accidents injured 56 Soviet Friendship Hospital cal problems and didn’t sleep which are motorcycles. National Road Safety Com- mobile phones while driving people – a decline of about in Phnom Penh on May 8. enough, which made her an- Vorn said: “When I asked the mittee Him Yan said at the accounted for six per cent each 50 per cent from the same pe- Ministry spokesperson Or tibodies weak. However, she officer for the actual data, some conference that traffic police of fines issued to motorists. riod last year. Vandine did not respond to said the patient’s health re- of the cars were out of date for have issued fines to 14,271 Driving without a licence Yan said if accidents keep The Post’s requests for com- mained stable. many years and some never motorcycle riders and 4,733 made up four per cent of the declining, the government ment on Tuesday. came for an inspection.” motorists since May 1. fines while driving without will be well on its way to But at a press conference www.phnompenhpost.com The National Police an- He further said that 79 per licence plates accounted for ensuring road safety in the on Monday, World Health check the post website nounced that the authorities cent of the fines for motor- the remaining three per cent. Kingdom. Organisation (WHO) Repre- for breaking news Mondulkiri tourism plan to go forward

Niem Chheng

MINISTER of Tourism Thong Khon announced the formation of an inter- ministerial committee to create a plan for tourism in Mondulkiri province, where 39 tourist destinations have been identified by the provincial governor Svay Sam Eang. The committee said tourism develop- ment in the province must have support The Kbal Presh Waterfall in Mondulkiri is just one site that can attract tourists. hong menea from relevant sectors such as transport. The ministry suggested the construction is an integrated sector which needs sup- He also mentioned the appeal of various of a new airport to receive tourists and port from other sectors including envi- farm products which tourists can view transport products to local destinations. ronment, agriculture, culture, water, elec- along the roads in the province. The ministry said Mondulkiri and tricity and transportation. Provincial administrative chief Hiek other provinces in northern Cambodia He agreed that the province needs an Sophan said: “The committee’s techni- are potential eco-tourism destinations airport and expects it to connect to other cal group will study and draft a master which need “sustainable development ASEAN countries and China. plan which is expected to be released in with high responsibility”. Eang said in the meeting that his prov- August or September.” The most important sectors in this ince had 39 attractive tourism destina- Ministry spokesperson Tob Sopheak province are tourism and eco-tourism, tions which included natural waterfalls, said on Tuesday that three inter-ministe- followed by organic agricultural products ethnic minority cultures, valleys, wildlife rial committees have been formed to and coffee, the ministry said. sanctuaries, natural protective areas, eco- make tourism plans in Siem Reap, Kep Khon said in the meeting that tourism tourism destinations and mountains. and Mondulkiri province. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 5 National Search on for Plan adopted to prevent Kingdom’s man who killed wife in Kandal A’ANG district police are search- Asian elephants from extinction ing for a suspect who allegedly Shit his wife in the chest, causing Phuon Chansereivuth her to die at the Sa’ang District Referral Hospital on Sunday. HE Ministry of Environ- The incident occurred in Sa’ang Phnom ment, in collaboration with commune, Sa’ang district, Kandal Fauna & Flora International province. Sa’ang district police chief Ros (FFI), has adopted an ac- Chantha said on Tuesday that the suspect, tionT plan to save Asian elephants in 37, lives there but hasn’t been found. The Cambodia from extinction. victim Ny Leza, 22, was a garment worker. The conservation plan was com- “My people are trying to catch the piled by the ministry’s General Di- suspect and we are working very hard,” rectorate of Administration for Na- he said. ture Conservation and Protection Sa’ang commune police chief Lon Chan- (GDANCP) and all stakeholders tha told The Post on Tuesday that he could with technical support from the not assume the reason why the husband FFI’s Cambodian Elephant Con- hit Leza but her relatives told authorities servation Group (CECG). the couple had just signed divorce papers Established in 2015 by the FFI in one month before the incident. cooperation with the ministry and The couple signed a divorce letter with the Forestry Administration, the commune authorities but had not yet CECG aims to conserve the endan- gone to court. gered species by stabilising and in- According to Chantha, witnesses said creasing its populations through- around 4:00pm, the victim was riding a out Cambodia. motorbike alone and her husband was GDANCP director-general Meas chasing her. He hit her in the chest and Sophal said the action plan is a sig- she fell to the ground. Relatives took her nificant milestone. to hospital but she died upon arrival. “We developed this action plan, Citing relatives, a Sa’ang district official the first forA sian elephants in Cam- who asked to remain anonymous said a bodia, that will guide effective pro- Between 400 and 600 of Asian elephants are believed to remain in Cambodia, mainly in the Cardamom Mountains. ffi day before the incident, the suspect had tection of the country’s most iconic accused his wife of having a relationship species,” he said. A smaller number of the species victim to snares, which hinder dor network, which covers 7.2 mil- with another man. Classified as endangered on the can also be found in other parts of the population recovery. lion hectares, or 42 per cent, of the Sa’ang commune chief Sar Vichet said International Union for Conser- Kingdom, such as the northern plains. Sophal said the action plan is vital country’s surface,” he said. on Tuesday that the couple had two kids, vation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, The IUCN said the areas are to safeguarding the “cultural heri- Asian elephants can reach 6.4m in a boy and a girl, but he didn’t know their Asian elephants face a “very high known for their rich biodiversity, tage icon” for future generations. length and 3m at the shoulder. They ages. In April, they went to the local risk” of extinction. which is ideal for the elephants and “The action plan aims to strength- weigh up to five tonnes. authorities to get a divorce certificate but Between 400 and 600 of them are other endangered species. However, en the management of Asian el- They are smaller than African el- were told that local officials didn’t have believed to remain in Cambodia it said habitat degradation due to ephants with involvement from all ephants and have a single “finger” the authority to grant it. and are concentrated mainly in the deforestation has taken a toll on el- stakeholders so that their popula- on the upper lips of their trunks, “If [people] want to divorce, it is their Cardamom Mountains in the south- ephant populations and their long- tions are protected and able to re- while African elephants have a sec- matter and it is not within our jurisdic- west of the country and the eastern term survival. cover, not least in the protected area ond one on the lower lip, according tion,” Vichet said. Kim Sarom plains of Mondulkiri province. Elephant calves have also fallen and biodiversity conservation corri- to the World Wildlife Fund. Catu urges reinstatement of three dismissed unionists Long Kimmarita

THE Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (Catu) released a statement requesting that Roo Hsing Garment Co Ltd re- instate three dismissed union officials after the organisa- tion deemed their dismissal unsubstantiated and unfair. The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training’s Depart- The unionists were fired at the request of Roo Hsing Garment. supplied ment of Labour Dispute direc- tor Chrun Theravong decided work stoppage and the three She also said Catu would file The ANA said creating new centres will help facilitate the mission to reduce time and expense. Hong Menea on May 7 to dismiss assistant dismissed employees and a complaint with internation- shop steward and union activist Catu members never formed a al buyers to persuade them to Kon Soch, vice-president of the plan or incited other workers. intervene in the case in addi- Centres opened for home requests local factory union Ek Sarun, It said local union affiliates tion to filing a complaint with and secretary of the local fac- had attempted to meet with the Minister of Labour. Voun Dara ier for citizens to access. The ANA officials said in the first tory union Sok Kong, at the re- the company to discuss and Sophorn said the documents idea behind the locations is four months of this year, they quest of Roo Hsing Garment. resolve the case, but the com- she received only requested that THE Apsara National Au- to process requests, including allowed 1,110 families to re- Roo Hsing Garment said the pany never exhibited a spirit the employees be suspended, thority (ANA) on Tuesday permission to fix and repair pair and build small houses employees violated Article 83 of negotiating in good faith. not dismissed. She believes the opened three more locations existing structures,” he said. out of 1,523 requests. At the of the Labour Law, which pro- “These terminations will Department of Labour Dispute to receive application forms Kosal said within the first same time they removed 729 hibits employees from a slew have severe effects on these overstepped its boundaries in from citizens requesting week of May, the ANA had illegal structures. of punishable actions includ- three workers. Currently, the allowing the three to be fired. to build houses and other received 52 requests to build Banteay Srei district gov- ing making threats, committing national economy is facing a Ministry spokesman Heng structures in Angkor Ar- new houses and repair con- ernor Khim Finan said on fraud, stealing and inciting oth- decline because of the global Sour told The Post on Tuesday chaeological Park. structions. Authorities went Tuesday that by providing lo- er workers to commit offences. Covid-19 pandemic, which that its officials had handled the ANA spokesman Long Kosal to check 24 cases and moved cations for services, the ANA The statement, dated May will make it difficult for them case according to law, and that told The Post on Tuesday that forward with six of them. is making the services more 11, said in mid-April Roo to find work elsewhere. the three had incited workers to the authority already had three He said the ANA pays at- convenient and accessible. Hsing Garment accused the “Two of the workers have commit a serious mistake. locations to provide the ser- tention to each case, check- In the past a lot of time was three of formulating a plan to infant children who need He further said if the dismissed vice but to make it convenient ing and further strengthening spent on such requests for have all employees stop work- milk and medical care,” the union officials were not satisfied for citizens, three more loca- their work from one request services, he said. ing at the factory on April 9 to statement said. with the decision, they could tions were added. They are at to the next, until they can re- “Creating more locations pressure their employers into Catu president Yang Sophorn protest it within two months to Angkor Ticket Centre, Angkor spond to all citizens. for services reduces the bur- allowing them to take a vaca- told The Post on Tuesday that the Minister, who has the right Thom Ticket Centre and Ban- Creating new centres in den on citizens who used to tion during Khmer New Year. the union was left speechless to cancel or revise the decision. teay Srei Ticket Centre. these locations will help fa- have to travel and waste a It said on that day, workers in when the director of the Depart- “[Labour ministry] officials “The main purpose of cre- cilitate the mission to reduce lot of time. I plan to discuss the finishing section stopped ment of Labour Dispute of the implemented the law and ating more locations is to time and expense. And all the with the ANA on the idea of working for almost two hours. Ministry of Labour and Voca- issued the standard letters. provide services to citizens services offered are free of operating a centre in Banteay Catu said their local union tional Training had allowed the Each party has a right to pro- and make public services eas- charge, said Kosal. Srei,” he said. was not involved with the company to dismiss the three. test the decision,” he said. 6 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business

USD / KHR USD / CAD USD / CNY USD / JPY USD / MYR USD / SGD USD / THB AUD / USD EUR / USD GBP / USD 4,103 1.4012 7.0885 107.49 4.3295 1.4172 32.12 0.6490 1.0821 1.2330 Trade with UNDP inks deal with KE to train Japan sees Kingdom’s young entrepreneurs increase of

Patrocinio Rivera nearly 5%

HE UN Development Pro- Thou Vireak gramme (UNDP) in Cam- bodia on Tuesday inked a TRADE volume between Cambodia partnership with Khmer and Japan reached over $586 million EnterpriseT (KE) to provide training in the first quarter of this year, up for the Kingdom’s budding entre- 4.90 per cent year-on-year, despite preneurs. the Covid-19-fuelled demand and It will also support the develop- supply shocks reverberating across ment of the small- and medium- the global economy, a report from sized enterprise (SME) sector, it said the Japan External Trade Organisa- in a press release. tion (Jetro) shows. KE, an implementation unit of Cambodian exports were valued at the Entrepreneurship Development more than $475 million during the Fund established by the Ministry of period, an increase of 4.4 per cent Economy and Finance, is the latest over the same period last year, while in the line of start-up support or- its imports were more than $111 mil- ganisations that UNDP Cambodia lion, up seven per cent, it said. has teamed up with, to contribute Chhour Vichet, CEO of Sanco-Poi- to the Kingdom’s economic diver- pet Special Economic Zone (SPSEZ) sification and sustained economic operator Sanco Cambo Investment growth. Group Co Ltd, told The Post on Tues- UNDP Cambodia aims to enhance day that the zone’s production and entrepreneurship training through export activities are running smooth- incubation, acceleration pro- ly despite the spread of the corona- grammes and a national dialogue to virus. showcase the Kingdom’s start-ups The industrial park’s occupants with the greatest potential. mainly comprise Japanese compa- It said: “This partnership aims spe- nies, which have been manufactur- cifically to ensure that Cambodia’s ing automobile components and next generation of entrepreneurs electronics components for export are well-equipped with practical, UNDP Cambodia and KE on Tuesday signed a partnership agreement to provide training for the Kingdom’s budding entrepreneurs to Japan and Thailand, he said. world-class training and mentor- and support the development of the SME sector. HENG CHIVOAN “They are producing as usual and ship, and have access to suitable exports have not changed during the funding and investment readiness partner with KE to create oppor- advice and support from people who neurial activities. time,” Vichet said. “We believe that the support at the early stages of their tunities and provide training and care passionately about the growth “Through this strategic collabora- export of their products in the coming start-ups. support to help the next generation of the Kingdom’s SME sector. tion, we hope to create a synergistic quarters will be even better because “The partnership also lays the of young entrepreneurs and profes- KE CEO Dr Chhieng Vanmunin platform and its impact on young, they are unaffected by the virus.” foundation for UNDP Cambodia sionals develop and thrive. said: “Khmer Enterprise, with the aspiring entrepreneurs and SMEs in The potential of the SPSEZ is also and KE to re-enforce their common “Never has it been more impor- support from the Ministry of Econ- the country would greatly be ampli- attracting more Japanese investors, efforts in improving the SME eco- tant to invest in young people and omy and Finance, is proud to col- fied,” he said. he said. system through providing technical their talent and energy as we find laborate with UNDP Cambodia to UNDP Cambodia said Bluetribe “Recently, two Japanese compa- and financial support to SMEs in ways to manage and recover from create the business incubation pro- will “provide selected youth with nies showed an interest in investing priority sectors, including e-com- the Covid-19 crisis,” he said. gramme which promotes decent quality training and mentorship as in our special economic zone merce and sustainable SME cluster Earlier this month, UNDP Cam- youth employment and entrepre- well as access to seed funding to [SEZ]. development,” it said. bodia launched the business incu- neurship development. start and build their businesses”. “They manufacture electrical com- UNDP representative in Cambo- bation programme Bluetribe in col- “This is aligned with KE’s vision Registration for the programme ponents and are exploring invest- dia Nick Beresford was quoted as laboration with KE in search of eager, and mission to become the National remains open until the end of the ment opportunities in the area,” he saying: “UNDP is very pleased to talented entrepreneurs in need of Platform for promoting entrepre- month. said. SPSEZ covers more than 83ha in Poipet town, Banteay Meanchey province. Ten companies currently operate in the SEZ, nine of which are owned Siem Reap airport set to land on schedule by Japanese investors. Cambodia and Japan have jointly May Kunmakara tion will take 36 months and cial issues,” he said, adding Ltd to build the new airport committed to increase bilateral trade is scheduled to be fully com- that AIAI and SSCA have to serve Siem Reap. volume to more than $2 billion by DESPITE slowdown in the pleted on March 14, 2023,” agreed to have a monthly The agreement gave the this year. aviation sector, the new said Havannall. meeting on the status of the firm and its construction and Cambodia exported more than $1.7 Siem Reap International AIAI has been working project. airport management sub- billion in goods to Japan last year, up Airport is on schedule to be closely with an SSCA techni- The new airport is being sidiaries an exclusive 55-year 7.7 per cent from 2018, Jetro data completed by 2023, said cal team in the construction built on a 750ha property in build, operate, transfer (BOT) shows. Cambodia imported more State Secretariat for Civil of the project. The team spe- Sotr Nikum district east of concession on the new air- than $563 million worth of products, Aviation (SSCA) secretary of cialises in the installation of Siem Reap town at a cost of port, replacing the current up 33.4 per cent from 2018. state Mao Havannall on the technical facilities and $880 million. The project will exclusive agreement with Between 1995 and September, there Monday. the design of the airport. be built in three phases. Cambodia Airports, a com- were 141 Japanese investment He said this at a meeting SSCA spokesman Sin AIAI will invest $500 mil- pany majority-owned by projects with $2.5 billion in capital with Angkor International Chansereyvutha told The lion for the first and second France’s Vinci Group, which investment, data from the Council Airport Investment (Cambo- Post that although the spread phases, which will allow was set to expire in 2040. for the Development of Cambodia dia) Co Ltd (AIAI) board of Covid-19 is affecting the medium-sized and ranged Chansereyvutha said the (CDC) shows. chairman Lu Wei. aviation industry, AIAI is passenger aircraft like the airport will be able to han- Of these, 66 were in special eco- Havannall said AIAI will con- committed to finishing con- Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 dle 10 million passengers in nomic zones with an estimated cap- tinue to receive support from State Secretariat for Civil Aviation struction on time. to land. Another $300 mil- 2030 and 20 million by ital investment of $340 million. the SSCA to speed up the con- (SSCA) secretary of state Mao “It will not cause delays in lion will be allocated for the 2050. Most of the projects were in the Havannall. FRESH NEWS struction of the airport due to the construction,” he said. third phase. “We hope that after con- energy, electronic component the close relations between “The company started the “Of course, there is travel In October 2017, the gov- struction is complete, the assembly, auto spare parts, agro- Cambodia and China, espe- construction of the new Siem delay for experts because of ernment reached an agree- airport will be functional as industry, food processing, hospital- cially during the fights against Reap International Airport the travel ban, but the com- ment with Chinese state-run the pandemic will have sub- ity, health and retail sectors, the the Covid-19 pandemic. on March 15. The construc- pany doesn’t have any finan- Yunnan Investment Holdings sided by then,” he said. data shows. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 7 Business Rice sector looks to up exports Rady: No new GI Thou Vireak products this year HE government and Hin Pisei ing the right to block any party the private sector are from claiming GI status to jointly studying the THE Ministry of Commerce manufacture products with- feasibility of lowering will not grant any Geographi- out authorisation,” said Rady. paddyT production costs and re- cal Indication (GI) designa- He noted that GI-listed fining milled rice export plans tions this year, due to a lack products are rare, and that not to increase the competitive- of formal applications, said all products are eligible for the ness of Cambodia’s market. the ministry’s Department of coveted status. Ministry of Commerce sec- Intellectual Property Rights GI expert and Kampot Pepper retary of state Sok Sopheak on director Op Rady. Promotion Association adviser Monday said ongoing discus- The ministry currently lists Sok Sarang said GI status offers sions are aimed at identifying three local products as hav- farming communities and stake- the challenges and giving the ing GI status – Kampot’s pep- holders a number of benefits. Kingdom’s rice sector a com- per, Kampong Speu province’s “The GI designation will help petitive edge. palm sugar and pomelos promote the reputation of re- He was speaking at a meeting grown in Kratie province’s Koh gional high-quality products, on rice production costs with Trong commune. production and cultivation, representatives from the Cam- Rady told The Post that the and curb counterfeits while bodia Rice Federation (CRF) ongoing health crisis may be a guaranteeing higher, more sta- and the Cambodian Agricul- reason for the absence of appli- ble prices,” said Sarang. tural Value Chain Program. The government and the private sector are jointly studying the feasibility of lowering paddy production costs cations, as producers struggle He said being awarded the and refining milled rice export plans to increase the competitiveness of Cambodia’s market. pOST STAFF “[The discussion] analyses the to maintain their operations. status is an arduous process. value chain of the rice sector, Sokheang told The Post on millers to buy and store paddy decade, said a CRF report. He noted that the GI regis- “To apply for GI registration, from farming, drying and milling Tuesday that the study aims rice to process for export. The export volume is 40.46 tration process is not easy or you first have to put together a processes until the export stage, to boost competition with “We would like to request that per cent over the 213,763 fast due to the red tape and team of community producers, as well as the shipping docu- major rice producers in the the government, the National tonnes reported in the same availability of funds for offi- setting territorial zoning [lim- mentation process for exports to ASEAN region and promote Bank of Cambodia and com- period last year, it said. cials to make field visits – is- its for production] and imple- target countries in Europe and the goal of one million tonnes mercial banks provide loans to China accounted for 41 per sues which are made worse by menting a monitoring system.” [elsewhere],” said Sopheak. of rice exports by 2022. the agricultural sector because cent of exports or 122,094 the pandemic. The ministry’s secretary of He said the stakeholders “We have a general overview of it contributes nearly $10 billion tonnes, the EU and the UK Still, he said, the process state Tek Reth Kamrong previ- discussed the impact on the local production costs, focusing per year to the economy. 32 per cent or 97,337 tonnes, would take no more than two ously said the Kingdom plans export value of Cambodian on Phka Romduol paddy, Sen “But the loans that the banks ASEAN countries 13 per cent years. to submit six products for GI mill rice, including electricity Kra’op paddy, and white rice. offer to the agricultural sec- or 37,428 tonnes and other “GI registration is like build- registration in the EU. issues, transport from ware- “We discussed this in order tor are miniscule compared to countries 14 per cent or 43,339 ing roads. It takes a long time These products are rice that house to port, port costs, and to bring the production value what they provide for the indus- tonnes. and occasionally sees potholes is grown in Battambang prov- shipping costs from ports to chains between Cambodia trial, garment and construction The Kingdom’s rice exports along the way,” said Rady. ince’s Thma Koul district, Pur- import destinations countries. and our neighbours to similar sectors,” said Sokheang. to international markets He said formal applications sat oranges, Kampot durians, At the same time, he encour- levels, especially as we want to Cambodia exported 300,252 amounted to 620,106 tonnes require a lot of collaboration Kampot salt, silk produced in aged the private sector to con- further increase Cambodia’s tonnes of rice to the interna- last year, slightly down 0.97 from farmer associations, rel- Banteay Meanchey province’s tinue to work with the minis- white rice exports,” he said. tional market in the first four per cent from 626,225 tonnes evant stakeholders, experts Phnom Srok district, and try to address the challenges At the same time, he called on months of this year – equiva- in 2018. Revenue was $501 and the ministry. steamed balut (fertilised duck in the rice sector, he said. the government to boost finan- lent to $210 million – the high- million, down 4.3 per cent “GI registration provides egg) from Takeo province’s Sre CRF vice-president Chan cial assistance to enable rice est export volume in the past from $524 million in 2018. many special benefits, includ- Ronong commune. 8 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Business Laos’ sixth Philippines’ ABS-CBN is ‘not for sale’ Mekong HE Philippines’ top broad- caster ABS-CBN Corp reject- dam plans ed buyout rumours as mur- murs swirled that billionaires areT keen on taking ownership of the submitted beleaguered media giant after it was ordered by the Duterte administra- Patrocinio Rivera tion to close its main broadcast op- erations last week. LAOS has submitted plans to “ABS-CBN is not for sale,” ABS-CBN build a new hydropower dam head of communications Kane Errol on the Mekong River, with con- Choa said on Monday. struction scheduled to begin Choa issued the statement in re- later this year, the Mekong sponse to speculation that other River Commission (MRC) said parties were keen on scooping up in a press release on Monday. ABS-CBN, which is controlled by pri- The Sanakham hydropower vately-held Lopez Inc. project has an estimated cost of Prominent names included the Ayala $2.073 billion, $27.7 million of Group, which owns telco giant Globe which will be allocated for envi- Telecom, and Udenna Corp, controlled ronmental and social mitiga- by Dennis Anthony Uy, a Davao-based tion measures and monitoring businessman and campaign donor of programmes, said the MRC. President Rodrigo Duterte. The MRC is an inter-govern- Uy, whose group recently estab- mental organisation estab- lished a media and entertainment lished in 1995 that “works arm, denied any intention to buy directly with the governments ABS-CBN and said “the business of of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand broadcasting is not part of our corpo- and Vietnam to jointly manage rate direction”. the shared water resources and An Ayala spokesperson said on Mon- the sustainable development day “there is no truth to that rumour”. There has been speculation that other parties are keen on scooping up ABS-CBN, which is controlled by privately-held Lopez Inc. AFP of the Mekong River”. ABS-CBN is instead challenging the Listed as developer is Datang National Telecommunications Com- its 11,000 employees, analysts have on the NTC should government suc- is its content, which includes a vast Sanakham Hydropower Co Ltd, mission’s (NTC) cease and desist or- warned. ceed in recalling the spectrum. library of TV shows and movies. a subsidiary of Chinese state- der before the Supreme Court. In issuing its cease and desist order He said the typical options include Just before the shutdown, company owned Datang International It has continued its online presence on May 5, the NTC argued that ABS- a so-called beauty contest, where the CEO Carlo Katigbak made sure to re- Power Generation Co. since this is not covered by the NTC’s or- CBN can no longer continue broad- NTC decides which company is the mind loyal viewers of this fact when The project is part of the Lao der. However, traditional media platforms casts using its assigned radio frequen- most capable of utilising the assets, or he mentioned The Probinsyano – one government’s plan to export such as television and radio are crucial cies since its Congressional franchise a spectrum auction, where the high- of its longest-running hit shows. around 20GW of electricity to because they deliver the majority of its expired the previous day. est bidder wins the frequencies. “Frequencies are valuable if you are its neighbours by 2030, which revenues and nearly all of its profits. The NTC also told ABS-CBN to explain Galla said another option is to stop going to operate the network but in centres chiefly on hydropower ABS-CBN said in its filing before the within 10 days why its frequencies should or delay the recall of frequencies this business content is king,” said Uy, development. Supreme Court that it was losing up to not be recalled by the government. through a legal challenge, keeping who is also the owner of broadband During the 2020-2030 period, 35 million pesos ($700,000) per day – It is those frequencies that other play- them tied up in the courts. company Converge ICT Solutions Inc. the Thai government expects to equivalent to about one billion pesos ers are reportedly keen on winning. While frequencies and a Congressio- He told Philippine Daily Inquirer import about 9GW of electricity per month – because of the shutdown. Pierre Galla, co-founder of advoca- nal franchise are important require- that he also has no plans of venturing from Laos, Cambodia about Without earnings, the company will cy group Democracy.Net.PH, said the ments of the broadcast business, one into the broadcast business. PHILIPPINE 6GW, Vietnam about 5GW, eventually go bankrupt, threatening use of those frequencies will depend of ABS-CBN’s most important assets DAILY INQUIRER Myanmar about 300MW and Malaysia about 300MW, Vien- tiane Times reported the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines as saying. Singapore is currently engaged in trade negotiations SK’s oil refineries running out of storage space for electricity imports. Laos has completed two dams on the Mekong River, the WITH a dramatic drop in inter- The other refiner in Korea, 1.285GW Xayaburi Dam in national oil prices and sluggish S-Oil, is maintaining a 100 per October and the 260MW Don demand amid the novel coro- cent operating rate, though its Sahong Dam in January. navirus pandemic, oil refinery regular maintenance is sched- Sanakham’s proposed site is businesses in South Korea uled in the second quarter. located 155km north of Lao logged their worst-ever per- The differentiating factor for capital Vientiane and is pro- formances in the first quarter. S-Oil is that Saudi Arabia’s jected to produce 684MW of Aside from plummeting state-run oil giant Saudi Ara- electricity once the project is product prices devastating mco owns a 63.4 per cent stake. online in 2028. It will stand 58m earnings, some of the compa- This in turn gives them more high and 350m long, and com- nies have also been facing dif- sources to sell the oil amidst prise 12 turbines, each which ficulties in managing their the global oil price war. produce 57MW of electricity. recently unwanted stockpiles. “However, SK Energy can’t The Sanakham dam is the Korea’s leading oil refinery and dump its petroleum products sixth project – out of nine petrol station operator SK Ener- because it runs its business planned mainstream Mekong gy, in particular, is running out of independently,” an industry dams inside Laos – that has storage space for crude oil due to source said. been put forward to the prior low demand amid the pandem- Another industry source consultation process with the ic, industry sources have said. explained that though the oil MRC. SK Energy said 90 per cent of price is low, Korean refiners The Sanakham project will its storage capacity for crude oil can’t really stock it up in oil have to go through an MRC prior was used up last month, leaving tanks because their business consultation process, which nor- the refiner with only one option models are primarily based on mally lasts for six months. The – keeping the oil on the sea. processing the oil and selling MRC Joint Committee Working “If there is no place to unload petroleum products right Group is set to meet on June 16 the oil imports shipped from SK Energy said 90 per cent of its storage capacity for crude oil was used up last month, leaving the refiner to discuss key issues. with only one option – keeping the oil on the sea. SK ENERGY away. an oil tanker, refiners have to To support the situation, Other MRC members can leave them inside the oil tanker some 24 million barrels per from its usual 95 per cent. But contract issues meant that Korea National Oil Corp (KNOC) review the project, assess any floating on the sea indefinitely. month. However, its total stor- Other Korean refiners such as SK was unable to follow suit. has temporarily lowered fees for cross-border impact and study In return, they have to pay the age capacity, measured at 20 GS Caltex and Hyundai Oilbank “It’s difficult to proceed with renting state oil reserve facilities sediments and fisheries. oil tanker tens of thousands of million barrels, actually falls to were able to mitigate the demand regular maintenance ahead of to provide extra storage space While they can suggest dollars per day,” said an SK 12 million barrels ahead of shock, as their regular mainte- schedule because SK Energy for domestic refiners. changes, as stipulated by the Energy official. periodical checkups that come nance was scheduled last month. still has to abide by supply con- “Though KNOC can’t reveal Procedure for Notification, And bad timing makes the around every five or 10 years. During the regular maintenance, tracts it signed with clients. exact figures on oil reserves as Prior Consultation and Agree- situation worse for SK Energy This means that SK Energy those refiners could take a Also, crude oil imports are it’s a matter of national secu- ment, the consultation process compared to other refiners, as has no choice but to keep their breather and halt their facilities. coming in as scheduled, so if rity, there is enough space to “is neither a right to veto the maintenance is due sometime plants rolling for the time being, Hyundai Oilbank, for instance, SK Energy begins the regular accommodate surplus oil from proposed use nor a unilateral in May or June. and to sell the product for what- lowered its operating rate to 30 maintenance ahead of sched- refiners,” a KNOC official said. right to use water by any mem- SK Energy currently proc- ever low prices it can get. How- per cent last month while repair- ule, there is no way to process KNOC’s capacity for crude ber country without taking into esses 840,000 barrels of crude ever it has cut the rate of opera- ing its plant in Daesan, South those imports,” said the SK oil is 127.5 million barrels. THE account the others’ rights and oil every day, which equals tions to 85 per cent since March, Chungcheong province. Energy official. KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK concerns”. THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 9 World Nightclub cluster stokes fears of second wave EOUL’S nightclub revel- my contact with the careless the overwhelming majority of lers are at the centre of a co-worker.” them under 40. potential second wave Positive cases are more Tracking down the coro- of infections in South common among younger navirus cluster in Itaewon is Korea,S with the nonchalance of populations in South Korea, projected to prove tricky, as young people at reduced risk of particularly those in their 20s the five nightclubs in question falling critically sick cited as a who account for 27 per cent cater to sexual minorities. threat to the novel coronavirus of total nationwide cases. Getting people to seek testing containment efforts. Approximately 65 per cent after virus exposure had been a In less than a week since a 29- of 81 cases confirmed in the challenge for authorities with year-old man was confirmed past week were in their 20s the secretive religious sect at infected on Wednesday – the or 30s, compared to only one the centre of the country’s first first to be found linked to the case over 70. wave of the outbreak. infections in Itaewon, a Seoul Sociologist Shin Jin-wook, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon neighbourhood known for its who researches generational said that out of 5,517 people nightlife – at least 86 visitors of divide, said South Korea’s 20- on the nightclubs’ guest lists, the nightclubs there had tested somethings tended to value some 3,100 were unreach- positive as of Monday. personal liberty more than able as of Sunday. To prompt Korea Centres for Dis- their older counterparts. voluntary disclosure, the city ease Control and Prevention “People in their 20s are more said it would allow people to (KCDC) director Jung Eun- sensitive to infringements of get tested without having to kyeong told a press briefing freedom,” he said, which can identify themselves. on Monday that the nightclub serve as a partial explanation South Korea’s transparency cases were “expected to surge for their tendency to shirk with the travel histories of further” in the week ahead. distancing rules. infected individuals may be The disease control agency’s In less than a week since a 29-year-old man was confirmed infected on Wednesday – the first to be found The consequences of young intimidating certain groups epidemiological investigations linked to the infections in Itaewon, a Seoul neighbourhood known for its nightlife – at least 86 visitors of the people defying health warn- from openly seeking neces- nightclubs there had tested positive as of Monday. STR/YONHAP NEWS AGENCY/AFP show most nightlife businesses ings could be life-threatening sary medical help, according in the northern Seoul district virus countermeasures was In a Facebook statement on settings. This contrasts with for older populations. to psychiatrist Dr Koo Ja-hyun started opening up before and meant to relieve the strain the Friday, infectious disease spe- 54.7 per cent of respondents An 84-year-old woman was at a mental health centre in during the holiday weekend extended outbreak has placed cialist Dr Lee Jacob of Seoul’s in their 60s who said they confirmed with the virus on Bucheon, Gyeonggi province. falling April 30 to May 5. on the economy. Hallym University Hospital were avoiding public areas. Monday after dining with her “A lot of name-calling and Ahead of the long weekend, Experts say the impact of the said the easing of restrictions 30-something grandson, who shaming is going on with complacency was rife in the brief breach in distancing will “will inevitably lead to an in- ‘Get it over with’ was among the thousands of publishing of personal details air with malls, cinemas, gyms not be immediately visible due crease in patients”. A Seoulite, 32, who works partiers at Itaewon. of the coronavirus patients,” and other public spaces be- to the long incubation period, Speaking about the night- in insurance in Gwanghwa- Her risk of dying from the he said, adding that public ginning to crowd like before which can be up to 14 days. club outbreak, he said it was mun, central Seoul, said he infection is much greater at accusations are only going to the coronavirus. Former KCDC head and pul- “just as feared” and urged was appalled by a colleague 25 per cent than that for her make contact tracing harder. This public behaviour was monologist Dr Jung Ki-suck caution on the part of young of a similar age who said he grandson, which is less than Amid the scramble to do encouraged by the govern- said: “This means there may people. “Spare a thought for would rather contract the dis- one per cent at 0.17. damage control, the prime ment, with President Moon be a second wave building up more vulnerable groups.” ease, gain immunity and “get Young coronavirus carri- minister said at a meeting with Jae-in taking his aides out that will not be picked up in In a survey of 1,813 adults it over with”. ers can spread the disease health officials on Monday for lunch on May 1 at a lo- the numbers until much later. conducted between April 30 He said the notion “honestly in their communities unwit- that “individual failures to co- cal restaurant in an apparent “Let’s not forget that Korea’s and May 1 by public health gave [him] nightmares” about tingly while asymptomatic or operate with authorities” may endorsement of the easing in worst peak was preceded by communications professor bringing the virus home to his minimally symptomatic – the force South Korea to reverse distancing measures. days of zero cases when the Yoo Myoung-soon of Seoul medically frail parents. “silent spread” KCDC’s Jung the relaxation of measures. Prime Minister Chung Sye- government downplayed the National University, only 23.3 “I live with my parents who has warned of. “A day’s delay on your part kyun has reiterated the coun- virus and top officials made per cent of respondents in are both in their 60s. One of Jung said nearly 40 per cent can put the entire country on try was ready to reopen, say- public appearances without their 20s said they refrained them has had cancer. I worry of known nightclub cases hold for a month,” he said. THE ing the decision to relax the wearing face masks.” from visiting close-contact I might put them at risk from were without symptoms, with KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Chinese cities step up virus control Indian firm develops THE number of new daily time, said the commission. tion and control work at the take the most stringent epi- $6 Covid-19 testing kit confirmed Covid-19 cases on Mi Feng, the commission’s residential compound, local demic control and prevention the Chinese mainland has re- deputy chief for publicity, authorities said on Monday. measures, including tracing A KOLJATA-BASED private Testing kits were prepared bounded to double digits over said at a news conference on The city’s health commission and screening all close con- firm GCC Biotech (India) Pvt following three procedures all the past two days, prompting Monday that seven provincial said on Monday that Wuhan tacts of new cases and putting Ltd claimed that it has de- leads to testing the quality of authorities in key areas to step areas in China had reported faces heavy tasks in epidemic them in isolation. veloped an indigenous “real- proteins and enzymes. up epidemic control efforts. new domestically transmitted prevention and control, and it It will also include imposing time” Covid-19 test kit cost- Majumdar said: “It is a real- Seventeen new confirmed cases over the past two weeks, urged constant efforts to pre- a lockdown on all residential ing only 500 rupees ($6.60) time test kit which can detect cases of coronavirus were re- and the number of cluster cas- vent a rebound of the outbreak. compounds and villages, and for a single test. infection. Within 90 minutes, ported on the Chinese main- es is increasing. The city reported one con- banning all clinics and re- Managing director Raja Ma- the patient can get the Covid land on Sunday, including “It is necessary to identify in- firmed case on Saturday. Pre- tail pharmacies from receiv- jumdar told Asian News Inter- result. The incubation period seven imported from overseas fection sources and transmis- viously, no new confirmed ing fever patients or selling national: “After two months of is not required for the test. and 10 domestic cases, said sion routes, trace close con- cases had been reported in the drugs that treat fever, Jin said. research and development, we “Producing reagents is an the National Health Commis- tacts and put them in isolation city for 35 consecutive days. Shulan is now the only place made this kit. It is cost-effec- advantage of the company. sion. for medical treatment to cut off In Shulan, a city in Jilin on the Chinese mainland tive as it contains all reagents We are supplying the reagents On Saturday, the Chinese virus transmission,” he said. province, 13 confirmed cases graded as a high-risk area. produced by us. across the country. We can mainland reported 14 new Of the 10 new confirmed do- have been reported since The city had already im- “We’ve made 10 million test manufacture 10 million test confirmed cases, including two mestic cases reported on Sun- Thursday, ending more than posed a strict lockdown on all kits and have four million in kits per month.” imported from overseas. There day, five were from Wuhan, 70 days of no new domesti- of its residential areas, permit- store. If India can do 300,000 “We have got the Indian Coun- was also one suspected case. capital of Hubei province, cally transmitted cases in the ting only one member of each tests per day, we’ll be able to cil of Medical Research clear- Before Saturday, the daily and the hardest-hit city by the province, Jin Hua, the city’s household to leave home to support the government with- ance and are waiting for WHO number of new confirmed epidemic in China and all of mayor, said at a news confer- do shopping every day. out any problems,” he said. [World Health Organisation] cases on the Chinese main- these were from the same resi- ence on Monday. Fan Ming, an official at the Developed indigenously, one approval. If we are asked by the land had remained in single dential compound. Jilin City’s Fengman district Health Commission of Jilin kit can test around 100 patients. State or Central government for digits since the beginning of The other five were reported also reported two new cases Province, on Monday, said GCC Biotech, located in Bakra- providing test kits at this hour of this month. in Jilin, Liaoning and Hei- on Monday. five epidemiologists from the hat village in South 24 Parganas crisis, we are ready to meet the The Covid-19 outbreak in longjiang, the three northeast- Experts from the National Chinese Center for Disease district, is engaged in preparing demands as required. China was largely brought ern provinces. Health Commission have ar- Control and Prevention have the testing kits in its laboratory. “A private laboratory is under control in China late Zhang Yuxin, the chief offi- rived in Shulan to guide the arrived in Shulan to help trace This indigenous test kit includes charging 4,500 rupees for the in February, and the Chinese cial in Changqing sub-district city’s epidemic control and the infection sources and two steps – QRT PCR Master Mix Covid test. This kit will turn mainland saw no new reports in Wuhan’s Dongxihu District, prevention work. their close contacts, and ma- Primer Probe and RNA Tem- out to be fruitful to those who of domestically transmitted was removed from his post for The city has declared it is jor progress is expected soon. plate each of which is developed are economically weak,” he cases on March 19 for the first failures in epidemic preven- now in a state of war and will CHINA DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK in the laboratory itself. said. ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL 10 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com ASEAN Retrenchments for Indonesia’s textile sector

HE first round of lay- easily placed to, at a mini- offs came in March mum, sustain workers and and involved 476 factories over this period.” trainees who had To be sure, some manufactur- beenT readying themselves for ers are keeping their workers. work at Nike supplier Victory Panarub, which makes ap- Chingluh in the Tangerang in- parel for German sports brand dustrial district outside Jakar- Adidas at its factory also in ta, just as Indonesia’s first cor- Tangerang, has retained its onavirus infections emerged. 8,500 employees so far. Then, on May 4, there was The company, which has not another round of cuts involv- recorded any infections so far, ing almost 5,000 workers with staggers shifts, provides masks a year or less experience at and takes other measures to the company, bringing head- cut the risk of contagion. count at the firm to 17,000. “As a Muslim, my life is in “Covid-19 is affecting every- God’s hands,” said factory one, not just in Indonesia,” said worker Sari Idayani, 45, an of- Suwandi Hekkindo, head of the ficial with GSBI. GSBI labour union, which rep- “But we can’t just leave resents 14,470 textile workers. safety to chance. We have to “We asked that manage- be careful.” ment cut hours and overtime Other contractors are shed- instead, but they said the lay- ding employees. offs were unavoidable.” South Korean manufacturer In the dog-eat-dog garment Beesco, a contractor for Japa- industry world, redundancies nese athletic shoe brand Asics, are accelerating. A million is firing 2,000 of its 7,000 work- may already be out of work in ers this month, owing to a 40 per Bangladesh. cent drop in orders, said GSBI. Out of Cambodia’s 700,000 or While the layoffs can be dif- so garment industry workers, ficult for some, for others, the Though cushioned somewhat by Indonesia’s massive domestic market, employment in Southeast Asia’s largest textile industry, which is 100,000 could now be jobless. responsible for 4.2 million jobs, may implode, union officials there fear. AFP rare offer of lump sum cash Though cushioned some- payouts can prove too much what by Indonesia’s massive sional labour union, which To be sure, the industry is Victory Chingluh’s payout sales in China during the to pass up. domestic market, employment had more than 242,300 textile competitive. The Victory Chin- includes three months in three months to February 29 Wiwit Gustina, 36, who is in Southeast Asia’s largest textile workers as of December. gluh workers who lost their jobs wages, as well as payment this year, Nike managed gross divorced with two children industry, which is responsible Union leaders accuse con- were making 4.2 million rupiah instead of forgone religious profit margins of 44 per cent. and parents to support, said for 4.2 million jobs, may im- tractors – the factories that ($280) a month, triple the mini- holidays, Suwandi said. At Swedish clothing brand she used her 36 million rupi- plode, union officials there fear. make shoes and shirts for mum wage in Bangladesh. David Welsh, country di- H&M, the company’s gross ah payout to open a food stall Already, the cuts have Nike or H&M – of seizing on And wages are on the rise in rector of the Southeast Asia margins during the same pe- in Jakarta selling sausages topped 63,000 since March. the crisis to offer cut-rate sev- Indonesia. The minimum wage branch of the Solidarity Cen- riod ticked up a percentage and meatball soup. Tens of thousands more are in erance deals to cut costs. for textile workers rose an aver- tre, a non-profit organisation point to 51 per cent. She lives in Karawang, near the offing this month alone. “The factories are using age of 8.5 per cent last year. aligned with the US-based la- “We call on brands to step the Beesco factory. “In a worst-case scenario, Covid-19 as an excuse to fire A bill to reform the country’s bour federation AFL-CIO said up during this time of crisis,” “I don’t regret taking the sev- 70 per cent of our member- workers and move some- notoriously rigid labour laws, that after years of fat margins, Welsh said. “With the enor- erance,” Wiwit said. “Now I’m ship could face layoffs,” said where cheaper,” said Ramidi, which make firing workers big brands ought to stand by mous profit margins they’ve free and focused on earning Ramidi, the general secretary who, like many Indonesians, expensive and time-consum- workers. enjoyed on the backs of work- money myself.” THE STRAITS TIMES of the Serikat Perkerjaan Na- goes by a single name. ing, is stuck in Parliament. Even as Covid-19 stymied ers in Southeast Asia, they are (SINGAPORE)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Malaysia: Plastic use rises amid movement restrictions

THE abundant use of plastic packag- rebates for companies that want to will be channelled towards a Green ing for delivery services must be adopt LCA.” Fund which will support our restau- looked into, especially with the rise Aroe Ajoeni, a youth environmen- rant partners in becoming eco- in online delivery services during the talist from Klima Action Malaysia, said friendlier businesses,” he said in a movement control order, say envi- the no-plastic movement was an statement to The Star. ronmental activists. important one to push for. “Plastic is He added that GrabFood also part- Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah cheap to produce, it’s waterproof and nered with the World Wildlife Fund Alam Malaysia president Shariffa it makes it safer to deliver items. That’s (WWF) in which it pledged towards Sabrina Syed Akil said online delivery why retailers use it to ship items. WWF’s vision of having no plastic in services had grown rapidly, increas- “However, policymakers and civil nature by 2030. ing the demand for plastic. society should look at this as a cli- A representative of a popular “Getting meals has become more mate change issue, starting from the hangout for youths in Kuala Lumpur convenient as it is literally at your fin- production of a product until its dis- said her restaurant had been provid- gertips. However, it involves a lot of posal,” she said. ing biodegradable paper straws, as single-use plastic packaging, which of World Cleanup Day 2019 audit well as packing deliveries in paper course is damaging to the environment showed that 10,370 littered pieces of containers and bags. as most end up in rivers and oceans. plastic take-out containers were picked “We are also making strides in “As companies that profit from up during a mass clean-up across 90 sourcing sustainable and local ingre- such activities, they have a responsi- locations in the country last year. dients,” she said. bility to ensure that their activities Last year, Former SWCorp deputy Malaysian Muslim Restaurant are sustainable and do not harm the CEO (technical) Dr Mohd Pauze Owners Association president Jawa- environment,” she said. Mohamad Taha said plastic made up har Ali Taib Khan said the move to She added that companies could As getting meals becomes more convenient, the volume of single-use plastic packaging waste rises, damaging the environment as most end up in rivers and oceans. AFP about 20 per cent of total waste. eliminate single-use plastic at eater- use biodegradable material for their While not all companies have ies would take time. packaging such as sugarcane fibre. packaging and also push businesses An LCA is a technique to evaluate switched entirely to being plastic- “You cannot do everything in one “This has already been done for to change from plastic packaging to the environmental impact of a com- free, some have undertaken meas- shot. But at least we are trying to smaller items such as straws. That better alternatives,” she said. mercial product during all its life- ures to reduce plastic usage. adjust to the environmentally-friend- being said, some food delivery serv- Global Environment Centre river cycle stages. Grab Malaysia country head Sean ly concept,” he said. ices have taken the initiative to care programme manager Dr K He said companies should invest in Goh said the company was taking Plastic pollution has been in the reduce plastic by offering users the Kalithasan said there were many producing their sustainable packag- measures towards improving the spotlight in recent years, especially option to refuse plastic cutlery. alternative materials available for ing and can even collect back the environmental sustainability of their after Greenpeace Malaysia reported “This may be a tiny effort on a larger packaging. packaging when the products are services and customers responded in 2018 that Malaysia “has become scale, but it plays a vital role in reducing “There are plant or organic-based delivered to ensure they are sustain- positively. the world’s rubbish bin”. single-use plastic,” she said. packaging or wrapping. However, ably disposed of. “The year 2020 will continue to see Countries such as the US, Japan Shariffa Sabrina urged consumers even this does not tackle the root “Companies should think about the us actively working with our restau- and Britain had been exporting plas- to be more environmentally-con- cause of the waste. long term impact and benefits. Sus- rant-partners to identify more eco- tic waste to Malaysia, while illegal scious when placing online orders. “The ideal solution is for e-com- tainable materials may cost higher at friendly packaging options. Current- plastic waste recycling factories “Many online stores now have an merce companies to adopt sustain- initial stages, but over time, it has a ly, some 85 per cent of our food orders mushroomed in the country. option for customers to collect their able or life cycle assessment [LCA] lower environmental impact and eco- have opted for the ‘no-cutlery’ toggle WWF had also reported in February items themselves. packaging and educate their custom- nomic cost,” Dr Kalithasan said. on our app. that Malaysians are the biggest indi- “Consumers can choose online ers and vendors on minimising plas- “The policymakers could also pro- “For every order which opted for no vidual consumers of plastic packaging. businesses that use eco-friendly tic packaging,” he said. vide additional incentives or tax plastic cutlery, 10 sen [2.3 US cents] THE STAR (MALAYSIA)/ASIA NEWS NETWORK THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 11 Opinion Respond to Covid-19 with new normal – www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com

EDITORIAL PERSONNEL EDITORIAL PERSONNEL Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Publisher & Chief Executive Offi cer Ly Tayseng for a safer, healthier CambodiaLy Tayseng Executive Editor-in-Chief Executive Editor-in-Chief Joshua Purushotman Opinion Joshua Purushotman Managing Editor Post Khmer Dr Li Ailan Managing Editor Post Khmer Sam Rith Sam Rith Deputy Chief of Staff Deputy Chief of Staff Phak Seangly HE world is in the midst of a Business Editor Phak Seangly pandemic, at a scale that has May Kunmakara Business Editor not been seen for more than Deputy Business Editor May Kunmakara a century. As of Tuesday, Sangeetha Amarthalingam moreT than 4.1 million Covid-19 cases, Deputy Business Editor Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Sorn Sarath including more than 286,000 deaths, Pan Simala have been reported to the World Deputy Head of Lifestyle Desk Senior Reporters Health Organisation (WHO). Covid-19 Pan Simala Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng remains a serious concern globally Senior Reporters Reporters and in the WHO Western Pacific Meas Sokchea, Niem Chheng Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long Region to which Cambodia belongs. Reporters Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth Emerging diseases can start in any Khouth Sophak Chakrya, Kim Sarom, Long Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung country at any time. A pandemic Kimmarita, Khorn Savi, Hin Pisei, Soth Sovanny, Thou Vireak, Ry Sochan affects everyone. WHO has been call- Koemsoeun, Voun Dara, Sous Yamy,Soung Photographers ing for pandemic preparedness long Sovanny, Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea before the Covid-19 pandemic. The Web Editor Ry Sochan rapid spread of Covid-19 has tested Leang Phannara Photographers the readiness, resolve and resilience of Webmasters all nations. Cambodia is no exception. Heng Chivoan, Hong Menea Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea Since the first Covid-19 case was Web Editor SIEM REAP BUREAU confirmed in Cambodia in January, Leang Phannara Offi ce Manager the Cambodian government Webmasters Sophearith Blondeel responded quickly to all the 122 con- Sous Chanthy, Pang Vichea PRODUCTION & PRINTING firmed cases. The Ministry of Health SIEM REAP BUREAU Head of Desktop Publishing has worked in close collaboration Offi ce Manager Nhim Sokphyrak with WHO, the US Centers for Dis- Sophearith Blondeel Desktop Publishing ease Control and Prevention, the Suon Savatdy, Chum Sokunthy, Danh Borath PRODUCTION & PRINTING Institute Pasteur in Cambodia and Tep Thoeun Thyda, Tim Borith, Than Veasna Head of Desktop Publishing many other partners. As part of the new normal, hand hygiene, cough etiquette and physical distancing must be part of everyday life – at home, at school, and Nhim Sokphyrak The government has mobilised at work. Individuals must protect themselves, their families and their communities in new ways. HONG MENEA HEAD OFFICE human, financial and material resourc- Desktop Publishing es to strengthen the country’s surveil- aims to be a safer and healthier the following five actions: Suon Savatdy, enoughChum Sokunthy, to protect Danh Borath you from Covid. lance system and lab testing capacity, country than ever before. We must First, maintain hand hygiene. TepFre Thoeun- Thyda,Fifth, Tim Borith, anyone Than Veasna with mild symptoms, expand contact tracing ability and set continue this collective journey. quently wash your hands with soap such as cough, should stay home, Post Media Co, Ltd. up quarantine facilities, increase the As part of this new normal, hand and water, or an alcohol-based rub.HEAD OFFICErest and isolate themselves from oth- The Elements Condominium Level 7, number of available hospital beds for hygiene, cough etiquette and physical This is especially important before ers. But people with more severe Hun Sen Boulevard, Phum Prek Talong, Covid-19 isolation and treatment, distancing must be part of everyday eating, after touching surfaces or symptoms, such as difficulty breath- Sangkat Chak Angre Krom,12353, Phnom strengthen the skills of front-line work- life – at home, at school, and at work. other people, before handling or pre- ing, must contact a health facility Penh, Cambodia ers, and engage community leaders to Individuals must protect them- paring food, after touching animals,Post Media Co,immediately. Ltd. Tel: 023 888 161, 023 888 162 Cellcard: 078 555 166, 078 555 133 support Cambodians. selves, their families and their com- and after going to the toilet or changThe Elements- CondominiumIf every single Level 7, person in Cambodia Smart: 086 822 999, 086 277 999 These efforts build on Cambodia’s munities in new ways. Whenever pos- ing a child’s diaper. Hun Sen Boulevardtakes, Phumthese Prek simple Talong, steps, together we SIEM REAP progress in preparing for health sible, people should frequently wash Second, cover your mouth andSangkat Chakcan Angre prevent Krom, Phnom and Penh, respond to a resur- No 629, Street 6 Dangkum Commune emergencies and building core their hands, cover coughs and sneez- nose with a tissue or your bent elbowCambodia gence of Covid-19. Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 health security system capacities es, avoid crowds, and stay at home when you sneeze or cough. Dispose SIEM REAP In four months, we have learned over the last decade. The past invest- and away from others when sick. COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT of any used tissues immediatelyNo in 629, a Streetmuch 6 Dangkum about Commune the virus that causes ment in the core public health sys- Businesses must adopt new ways of closed rubbish bin and wash your Covid-19, and WHO works with sci- Chief Operating Offi cer Tel: 063 966 290, Fax: 063 966 590 tem, including rapid response teams, working. They should explore alter- hands afterwards. entists from around the world to James Ong Soon Teck COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT paid off. But as in every country, nate work arrangements such as tele- Third, maintain at least 1m learn more every day. As we receive Advertising Department Chap Narith, 017 996 241 much still needs to be done to pre- working where possible and take pre- between you and others. The virusChief Operatingnew Offi cerevidence and improve our Hun Channet, 017 578 768 pare for possible widespread com- ventive measures to reduce the risk can spread through shaking hands,James Ong Soonunderstanding Teck of the virus, we will Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 munity transmission of the virus, of infection in the workplace. touching and other physical contact.Advertising Departmentneed to keep adjusting our approach Keo Puthy, 012 966 605 which could happen at any time. Schools must prepare for new ways It can also travel short distancesChap Narith, and017 996 strategies 241 for fighting it. Phon Sok Chea, 012 717 404 Today, many Cambodians believe of protecting their staff and students. when a person with the disease Hun Channet, 017This 578 768 is a unique moment in histo- Jessa Piastro, 092 445 983 the threat of the Covid-19 has passed They should make schools safer and sneezes or coughs. Prach Monnyreak, 012 123 7777 ry, and our actions today will be in CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION and that life is back to normal. How- CIRCULATION & DISTRIBUTION healthier by ensuring preventive Fourth, if you wear a mask, wash the history books of tomorrow. The Acting Distribution Manager Acting Distribution Manager ever, we cannot go back to the way measures are in place at all times. your hands before putting it on. Only world has seen pandemics before, Thenh Rithy, 087 888 854 Thenh Rithy things were. Defeating this new virus The new normal will mean con- touch the strings of the mask. Cover such as the Spanish flu from 1918- Circulation Supervisor is a long-term battle. Our actions stantly assessing the risks and our both your mouth and nose and makeADMINISTRATION 1919 and the pandemic H1N1 in Nou Chanthy, 096 999 2828 today and in the coming weeks and actions as the epidemic evolves. sure there are no gaps between Adminyour & HR Manager2009. But this is a new coronavirus, Yim Veasna, 015 814 499 months will directly shape the out- Together, we must act with solidarity, face and the mask. If the mask Pich Socheatthe first ever of its kind. ADMINISTRATION come of this fight. vigilance and plenty of patience. becomes moist while being worn,Assistants to AdminWe &must HR Manager be vigilant. We must be per- Admin & HR Manager Covid-19 has created a new world. We are calling on every individual, replace it. After taking off the maskNhel Soapheasistent. We must act together to create Pich Socheat In response, we must create a “new household and workplace in Cambo- by the strings, throw the mask inFinancial a Directora safer and healthier Cambodia. Assistants to Admin & HR Manager normal”– a world that is healthier, dia to unite to help prevent and limit closed bin and wash your hands. But Heang Tangmeng Nhel Soaphea safer and better prepared. Cambodia transmission of Covid-19 by taking remember, a mask alone is not Dr Li Ailan is WHO representative to Cambodia Financial Director Chief Accountant Heang Tangmeng Sren Vicheka Chief Accountant Treasurers Sren Vicheka Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, Treasurers Cheam Sopheak Sok Sophorn, Yon Sovannara, IT Manager Cheam Sopheak, Huy Hamsovannary Seng Nak, Vong Oun IT Manager Seng Nak, Vong Oun TO CONTACT US [email protected] TO CONTACT US [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com © Post Media Co, Ltd © Post Media Co, Ltd The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned The Phnom Penh Post is wholly owned and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The and printed by Post Media Co Ltd. The title The Phnom Penh Post in either title The Phnom Penh Post in either English or Khmer languages, its associ- English or Khmer languages, its associ- ated logos or devices and the contents of ated logos or devices and the contents of this publication may not be reproduced this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written in whole or in part without the written consent of Post Media Co Ltd. consent of Post Media Co Ltd. www.phnompenhpost.com www.phnompenhpost.com 12 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Creativity & Innovation KeeDu, a new educational app for children

Kheng Sokkunthea

HILE schools are still closed and distance learning become com- monplace, children are Wspending more time indoors with gadgets than they ever did before. Taking away their iPads, Samsung tablets and other electronic devices results in disappointment or the throwing of temper tantrums by some children. To fill the gap for healthier screen time, a team of young entrepreneurs has come up with an idea to develop a fun and educational tech-based solution called KeeDu. KeeDu is a less serious and enter- taining way of learning. It can be considered as an extra-curricular activity for self-learning at home and complements the existing on- line national education curriculum. The solution aims to get hundreds of pupils educated at home and pro- vide jobs to educators who are los- ing their jobs temporarily. The eight people behind KeeDu are Moung Vandy, a digital designer and creative writer; Ith Serey Vad- dhanak, a digital marketing spe- cialist and community association officer; Ich Sokheng, an assistant developer, Has Chanleakhena, a content writer; Sa Sophanich, a uni- versity student in Economics and Management; Udam Visal, majoring in software engineering; Seng Uy, a computer science student; and Ch- KeeDu can be considered as an extra-curricular activity for self-learning at home and complements the existing online national education curriculum. supplied hun Porchou, a software engineer- ing student. to experience something new that is over five can enjoy a maximum of The learning programmes come in Cambodia when needed, and plenty Most of them are fresh graduates also not taught in school. just two hours per day. two languages – Khmer and English. of simulated games to boost children’s and undergraduate students in dif- “Additionally, they will be enter- Because too much screen time Consisting of brainstorming ques- thinking skills and creativity. ferent universities in Phnom Penh tained and amazed with artistic vid- can harm a child’s development tions, quick questions and answers, “Likewise, we also plan to create a and other provinces. They have eos,” the team tells The Post. physically and mentally, it is recom- educational video games, creative premium subscription for free ver- various skills in business, manage- According to the team, KeeDu will mended that parents make the best animations and scientific videos, sions which soften the relationship be- ment, computer science, software also offer real-time support for your use of their children’s screen time, KeeDu is similar to kids programmes tween students and teachers, parents engineering, information systems, children. “The curriculum in the app and select educational and enter- around the world. or guardians and teachers. This is a and economics. is organised and taught by selected taining programmes for them. But the unique thing is that the new concept,” the team tells The Post. Together they are building a web- teachers who teach in kindergarten Because schools remain closed, content is developed based on the The team has not set the date of site and mobile app-based educa- and primary school levels. teaching is an extremely huge obli- Khmer context and lifestyle. release its mobile app and website tional platform for nursery, kinder- “However, because the new App gation for family. The team believes “Soon, we will update the Khmer version of KeeDu yet as they are garten, and primary school students was just developed in April, the that KeeDu will play a part in help- content in the video as this method has currently in development and test- for healthier and more beneficial KeeDu team will only release the ing children to self-study and lessen already been adopted in other coun- ing. However, the team is confident screen time. study programme for kindergarten their parents’ burden in this area. tries. The new content will come with it will be ready for launch soon in “Children studying through first, and later for the next levels,” The platform lets children en- a national identity and be adjusted to Apple App Store and Play store. KeeDu will get extra benefits as they the team says. joy the educational programme on the context of the user,” the team says. After downloading, users can just will understand the importance of The World Health Organisation their own without much assistance The website and app with a premi- register with their phone number or self-study. guidelines recommend that chil- from guardians. um subscription will be offered free link to their Facebook account. For “Some kids will recognise that dren aged between two and four The platform is designed to be us- during Covid-19 and consists of virtu- more information, please visit the studying at home is not boring at all. should watch only one hour per day er-friendly, simple and easy, thanks al learning, videos, real-time support Facebook page: @KeeDu or Call to Instead, it is the best time for them of approved programming. Children to the use of cartoons. from the best-selected teachers in 069 446 542.

Most are fresh graduates and undergraduate students in different universities across the Kingdom. SUPPLIED KeeDu is a less serious and entertaining way of learning. SUPPLIED THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 13 Lifestyle

The French House (right) has been in business for 129 years but is facing an uncertain future due to the coronavirus outbreak. Pub owners and patrons are itching to return to their favourite haunts. afp UK pubs try to stay afloat despite virus crisis

HE French House survived The seven-week national shut- is lifted. “It’s clearly having a devastating The regulars are desperate to get two world wars and glob- down has had a devastating eco- Britain is home to some 50,000 effect on the industry,” said Tom back to the boozer. al recessions. Charles de nomic impact in Britain, not least pubs, which employ almost 500,000 Stainer, CEO of the Campaign for Rakesh Modha would go to his vil- Gaulle is said to have fre- on pubs – one of the country’s most people – and the industry was facing Real Ale (Camra), which promotes lage local The Linden Tree, in Bursle- quentedT it and Dylan Thomas once recognisable institutions. tough times even before the devas- traditional British pubs. don, near Southampton in southern left his manuscript for Under Milk Prime Minister Boris Johnson or- tating impact of Covid-19. “I think it will be naive to expect England, up to four times a week, Wood at the bar. dered all of them to close late in The British Beer and Pub Associa- every pub to get through this.” helping to run a weekly quiz among But the 129-year-old pub in Soho, March. They are unlikely to reopen tion trade body said many landlords The Hearsall Inn in Coventry, cen- other things. central London, is under threat be- before July at the earliest. were already struggling to survive in tral England, prides itself on having “I am missing it and the interac- cause of the coronavirus outbreak, “We’re taking away the ancient, the face of an economic onslaught “the best pint of Guinness around”. tion with my friends,” said the ac- and has launched an online appeal inalienable right of free-born peo- in the last few years. But co-owner Daniel Scott served countant. “A gaping hole is apparent for £80,000 ($92,000) to keep it go- ple of the United Kingdom to go the Owners of “the local” have had to his last drop of the black stuff on in my life.” ing. pub,” he said gravely. deal with increased beer duty, a smok- March 20. As the government looks to gradu- “It’s horribly awful,” landlady Les- Historians believe it could be the ing ban, the 2008 global recession and He said the current crisis is incom- ally lift lockdown restrictions, pubs ley Lewis told AFP. “We had to do first time since the Great Plague of an increase in business rates. parable to anything he’s known in may be able to reopen in some form that. We didn’t have enough reserves 1665 – or possibly ever – that all Brit- Many landlords are now faced the 22 years his family has run the in the coming weeks and months. to fall back on.” ish pubs have shut. with the immediate problem of hav- pub. But there are likely to be changes Lewis, who has run the pub for 31 “In modern times, the only prec- ing to pay rent to the breweries that The traditional pub near the city – Scott says protective screens for years, said she doesn’t know if the edent was during the Second World typically own their premises and centre is normally packed and a fo- staff and customers may need to be pub has ever closed before, though War. Pubs sometimes closed be- taxes to the local council. cus for the local community. introduced, and door staff employed it is rumoured to have shut “for a cause of shortages of beer,” said so- On top of that, they are losing Because of that, Scott is confident to restrict numbers. day” after being bombed in World cial historian Paul Jennings. stock and have had to furlough staff they will weather the storm. Whatever form it takes, Jennings War II. But even during bitter conflict – or at least manage these problems “I am positive,” he said. “We are believes pubs will weather the The pub is trying raise the money they stayed open as it was seen as by seeking payment holidays and well established and we have great storm. from “friends, its fans, and its fam- “good for morale”, he added. apply for help from the govern- regulars and if you ask any of them, “The pub is clearly going to be ily” as it tries to meet its continuing The question now is whether all of ment’s support scheme for small they are itching to get back to the around for a long time,” he said. costs with no takings. them will reopen once the lockdown businesses. pub.” AFP Icelandic designer shakes up masks Wild boar takes a THROUGHOUT the coronavirus pan- stroll along Cannes’ demic the effectiveness of masks has been under debate, but Icelandic de- signer Yrurari’s knitted face coverings fabled Croisette aren’t so much to stop airborne droplets as to keep people at a distance by dis- USUALLY at this time of the corted the animal through the playing scary tongues or fangs. year, a galaxy of film stars city as it snouted its way past The sometimes bizarre creations were would be strolling along the the luxury boutiques. inspired by the films and TV shows Yr fabled Croisette promenade It finally went into the forest Johannsdottir, the designer’s real name, in the southern French city at the bottom of a hill from watched during a self-imposed confine- of Cannes, as photographers where it had likely emerged, ment in March and April. hunt out celebrities ahead of the police added. “The idea is that the masks would be the famous film festival. Daros said he could not re- ‘scary’ because of the rule of keeping the But with France still locked call any other example of a distance,” Johannsdottir said. down to combat the coro- wild boar on the Croisette. “It was a kind of joke approach . . . navirus pandemic, it was a The annual showcase of film the fabric is not safe or anything, but it lone wild boar that grabbed was to have begun on Tues- would keep people away,” the 27-year- the limelight this weekend by day but the festival was first old designer added. trotting down the famous es- postponed and then shelved In the small studio she rents in an in- Fashion designer Yr Johannsdottir poses for a photo wearing one of her masks at her studio in planade on the shores of the indefinitely due to the virus. dustrial area of Reykjavik, balls of yarn are Reykjavik, Iceland. afp Mediterranean, police said. From herds of wild sika deer piled up on a shelf next to a desk where a The young animal, weighing in streets in Japan to packs of dozen of creations, which are knitted to sweater adorned with tongues that rep- young Icelandic designer has no inten- around 50kg, was spotted by jackals congregating in Tel look like grotesque tongues, fangs and resented “love or lust”. tion of mass producing them. a police patrol overnight on Aviv in Israel, the global lock- less than flattering dental braces. Like most Icelandic children, Johanns- “I don’t want to make too many either, Saturday to Sunday strolling downs have prompted a spike The most elaborate creations require dottir was taught how to knit in school at I want them to just be like they are for down the deserted Croisette, in reports of animals flock- up to ten hours of work to complete. the age of nine. the moment I made them.” said local police chief Yves ing to the centre of densely- Putting tongues and mouths on masks “I got strangely obsessed with knitting . . . Textile museums in the US and the Daros. packed cites. is a logical continuation of a line of I was always reading Donald Duck comics Netherlands have however already ex- To ensure there was no risk France eased its lockdown sweaters she produced two years ear- and knitting at the same time,” she said. pressed interest in adding these masks to the public from the wild on Monday, although a host lier, which represented “confusing feel- While her masks have enjoyed popu- to their collections as a reminder of boar – which have been known of restrictions remain in ings that come with life”, and included a larity on social media networks, the these unusual times. AFP to cause injuries – police es- place. AFP 14 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Lifestyle Thinking caps

Four crew members of cruise ships have died of unclear causes in the past 10 days. afp Cruise ships jolted by deaths among crews woman who jumped end on the Navigator of the found dead of “natural causes” overboard and a man Seas, a Royal Caribbean cruise on the Mariner of the Seas, a who apparently died ship anchored in Miami. Royal Caribbean spokesman by suicide are among “At this moment we feel that said on Monday. Afour crew killed by non-corona- we’re all hostages,” one crew The Cruise Law News blog virus causes on cruise ships with member told the Miami Her- said the crew member was a workers stranded onboard. ald anonymously because of Chinese citizen. A 39-year-old Ukrainian fears the company would re- The ship is one of several died on Sunday jumping taliate. that sail between Florida and from the Regal Princess off “This company needs to the Bahamas. the Netherlands, Princess understand we are not boxes On Saturday, a man died of “GAME TIME” Cruises, a subsidiary of the of food that can be moved apparent suicide on the Car- Carnival corporation, said on around.” nival Breeze as it headed to ACROSS 62 First name among first ladies 29 Seed jacket Monday. On March 13 all cruise ships Europe from the Bahamas to 1 Living room seating 63 Perfumer’s talent 30 “Spirit of ’76” instrument The ship was in the process were subjected to no-sail or- repatriate its crew. 5 Easily split mineral 64 Day, to Claudius 31 Used a links peg of repatriating its crew. ders as the outbreak was ex- “His death is not related to 9 Devices to catch theunsuspecting 65 Fix firmly in place 32 Current producers It was the third death over the ploding worldwide. Covid-19, but out of respect 14 Bird of old Rome 66 Added stipulations 33 Any minute weekend on ships with crew Although passengers have for his family, we will not be 15 Internet journal 67 Appease, as hunger 34 Jeans purveyor Strauss trapped on board since the ex- disembarked, crew members providing additional details,” 16 Prefix meaning “sun” DOWN 35 This-for-that transaction plosion of the coronavirus pan- who remained on board have said Carnival spokesman 17 Nearly 100 percent market share 1 Enjoy to the fullest 36 Yellowstone herd member demic, and the fourth worker been in limbo. Roger Frizzell. 20 Early stages 2 Like sheep 37 Point opposite WSW to die in less than 10 days in There are 104 cruise ships On May 2, a crew member 21 Belgium’s capital 3 Gold medalist’s place 39 Farrow and Gardner, to Sinatra unclear circumstances. in and around US waters with went overboard from the Jew- 22 One way to cure baldness? 4 Fall bloomer 40 Worldwide oil power With crew members increas- 71,900 crew members aboard el of the Seas. A spokesperson 25 Absorbed, as losses 5 Upper mgmt. degree 44 Cauterize ingly desperate to return home, in total, the US Coast Guard for Royal Caribbean said it is 26 Neck backs 6 Word with “equipped” or 45 Greenish film “mannered” a group of about 14 workers be- confirmed last week. assisting authorities in that 28 Float, as a scent 46 Prized violin, briefly 32 Certain doo-wopper 7 You may part with it 48 Product pitches gan a hunger strike at the week- On Sunday, a worker was investigation. AFP 37 Creepy 8 Greek malls of old 49 Crucifixes 38 Second chance 9 Yonder items 50 Ancient Roman senate house 41 “Bell, Book and Candle” actress 10 Gym set? 51 White heron Kim 11 Sunscreen ingredient 52 What cats and rats do 42 Kicked out of school 12 Aspirin tablet 53 Treadmill unit La, not le: French Academy 43 Small scissor cut 13 Asian restaurant sauces 54 Muslim leader 44 Shopper’s binge 18 All-purpose vehicle, briefly 55 Much-used pencil 46 It’ll float your boat 19 Brazil, et al. 56 Heat-cracked 47 Less abundant 23 Get in on the pot 57 Black, in a sonnet says Covid-19 is feminine 53 Say incorrectly 24 Something to back up 60 Illegal thing to drop 58 Breadmaker’s raw material 27 Tough question 61 Start of a reply to Virginia BREAD is masculine, beer 59 “My deepest apologies” 28 Feeling fine feminine. In French, every noun has a gender, and that Tuesday’s solution includes the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Covid-19 is feminine – to be used with the article ‘la’ not ‘le’ – said the official guardian of the French language, which has urged an end to the wide- spread practice in France of referring to it as masculine. “The use of the feminine would be preferable,” the Acad- emie Francaise said in a direc- tive published on its website under the category “faulty use”. A wall inscription on the Lariboisiere Hospital in Paris reads ‘Coronavirus everywhere, more resources for public hospitals’. afp “It is perhaps not too late Tuesday’s solution to give this acronym back the is what gives it its gender. In – the official guardian of the gender it should have.” this case, disease, which is a Spanish language – has issued The academy deplored feminine “la maladie” in the similar guidance, citing the the use of the masculine language of Moliere. same grammar rationale. “le Covid-19” in the media The World Health Organi- The members of the French and general conversation in sation has long referred to academy are mostly elderly France, saying the disease had Covid-19 as ‘la’, and in Canada, men who wear an ornate wrongly been attributed the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, uniform and a sword and are same gender as the germ that government websites and the known as the immortals. causes it – ‘le’ coronavirus. media use the feminine form. Only last year did the noto- It explained that Covid was The “Office quebecois de la riously conservative academy an acronym for coronavirus langue francaise” also recom- open the door to feminine disease, and that in French, mends its feminine use, and versions of professions such the core word in an acronym the Royal Spanish Academy as doctor and teacher. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com 15 Sport Vettel to leave Ferrari at end of F1 season

OUR-time Formula One (F1) world champion Se- bastian Vettel on Tuesday said he would leave Fer- rariF at the end of the season, saying there was no “common desire” to work together any more. No replacement was named for the German, who dominated F1 with Red Bull before switching to the Italian marque in 2015. He said his departure was a “joint decision”. “My relationship with Scud- eria Ferrari will finish at the end of 2020,” the 32-year-old said in a statement from Ferrari. “In order to get the best possible results in this sport, it’s vital for all parties to work in perfect harmony. “The team and I have realised that there is no longer a common desire to stay together beyond the end of this season.” Vettel, who has won 14 races with Ferrari and 53 overall in his career, said financial considerations played no role in his decision. He said he would “reflect on what really mat- ters when it comes to my future”. Yet it has been widely reported that Ferrari had offered him only a one-year contract extension at a sig- nificantly reduced salary. Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel is leaving his team following reports of a contract dispute. afp Under pressure from Leclerc sion taken jointly by ourselves and the time had come to go our sepa- from the strong performance of Fer- ceived this way from the outside. Vettel’s departure will spark in- Sebastian, one which both parties rate ways in order to reach our re- rari teammate Charles Leclerc in the “I’ve never learnt so much as I did tense speculation about his replace- feel is for the best”. spective objectives.” 2019 season. Leclerc said: “It’s been with you as my team-mate. Thank ment, with reigning world champion “It was not an easy decision to Other names tipped to take over a huge honour for me to be your you for everything Seb.” Lewis Hamilton among the drivers reach, given Sebastian’s worth as from Vettel are McLaren driver Car- team mate. We’ve had some tense The coronavirus pandemic has previously linked with Ferrari. The a driver and as a person,” Binotto los Sainz and Renault’s Daniel Ric- moments on tracks. wiped away the start of the 2020 F1 Briton has indicated however he will added. ciardo while Antonio Giovinazzi “Some very good ones and some season with 10 races either cancelled be staying at Mercedes. “There was no specific reason that would be a popular home choice for others that didn’t end as we both or postponed. It hopes to open its Team principal Mattia Binotto led to this decision, apart from the the Italian team’s legion of fans. wanted, but there was always re- season with back-to-back races in said Vettel’s departure was “a deci- common and amicable belief that Vettel had been under pressure spect, even though it wasn’t per- Austria on July 5 and 12. AFP MLB greenlights 2020 season plan

MAJOR League Baseball (MLB) ington Nationals pitcher Sean team owners have approved a Doolittle noted health issues proposal for starting the coro- that got little mention in early navirus-delayed 2020 season details on the MLB proposal. in early July in ballparks with- “Bear with me, but it feels like out spectators, multiple we’ve zoomed past the most reports said on Monday. important aspect of any MLB The campaign was shut down restart plan: health protections two months ago while pre-sea- for players, families, staff, sta- son games were underway and dium workers and the work- the proposal for an 82-game force it would require to resume NHL forward Brendan Leipsic has been dumped by the Washington season, about half the normal a season,” Doolittle tweeted. Capitals after vulgar comments on Instagram. Getty images/afp length, must still be approved Doolittle, who helped the by the players union. Nationals beat Houston in last Negotiations were expected year’s World Series, wondered to begin on Tuesday, said how many Covid-19 tests Capitals Leipsic out ESPN, USA Today, The Ath- would be needed for the league letic and NBC Sports. during the pandemic. after sexist remarks The MLB plan becomes the “Baseball requires a massive first formal proposal for a Washington Nationals relief pitcher Sean Doolittle is sceptical about the workforce besides the players: proposal put forward by the owners. getty images/afp THE Washington Capitals attitudes and behaviour, no major US sports league to exit coaches, clubhouse staff, secu- decided to part ways with for- matter the forum,” the NHL a coronavirus hiatus, with the Designated hitters would with players, who are looking rity, grounds crews, umpires, ward Brendan Leipsic on Fri- said. “We will address this inex- NBA, Major League Soccer and come to bat instead of pitchers at losing half a season of their game day stadium staff, TV & day after he made vulgar and cusable conduct with the clubs the National Hockey League for National League teams for regular salary already in a media … we need to protect disparaging comments on a and players involved.” seasons having been halted by the first time in history. Amer- shrunken campaign and could everyone,” he tweeted. social media chat group. Leipsic’s younger brother, the deadly outbreak. ican League clubs have had worry about owners pushing “And that’s before we get to The 25-year old Canadian Jeremey, also participated in The proposal would have play- the rule in place for decades. for a salary cap in the next col- hotel workers and transporta- was placed on waivers by the the group chat and was ers report to training camps Teams would play at their lective bargaining agreement tion workers … They are essen- NHL club after his Instagram dropped from the University starting in mid-June for about own home ballparks where when the current one expires tial workers. We wouldn’t be group chat messages were of Manitoba hockey team. three weeks, either at home ball- allowed by state and local gov- in December next year. able to play a season without leaked earlier this week. Leipsic, who has since delet- parks or training sites in Florida ernments. Teams whose home MLB team owners have nev- them, and they deserve the The chat included inappro- ed his Instagram account, and Arizona, where stay-at- stadiums are unavailable er offered to share extra profits same protections.” priate remarks about Edmon- issued an apology earlier, say- home rules have been eased. would play out of their spring with players so the union He also asked how much risk ton Oilers forward Connor ing that he “fully recognised The season would launch training facilities. might very well object to hav- players are willing to assume to McDavid’s girlfriend and the how inappropriate and offen- between July 1-4 and playoffs Due to border crossing issues ing to share losses with the even play a season knowing that wife of Vancouver Canucks sive these comments are”. would expand from 10 to 14 with Canada, the Toronto Blue team owners this time. anyone involved with a game player Tanner Pearson. Leipsic signed a one-year, teams, with two extra wild-card Jays might have to play out of Teams would expand rosters could be among the 20 per cent The Capitals said in a state- $700,000 contract with Washing- clubs in both the National and their Florida training head- from 26 to 30 players with a sup- of cases with severe symptoms ment on Friday that putting ton in July. Leipsic had 11 points American Leagues. The playoffs quarters. port squad of 20 players available – and if added health-care ben- Leipsic on unconditional in 61 games with the Capitals would end early in November, Playing without ticket buy- as replacements in case of injury efits would be available for peo- waivers is the first step in ter- during the 2019-2020 season. only slightly later than normal. ers would be expected to trim or illness, including presumably ple with long-term health issues minating his contract. He has collected 16 goals, 43 Teams would mostly play 40 per cent off MLB revenues positive coronavirus tests. after catching the virus. The NHL condemned the assists in 187 career games against clubs from their own and the owners reportedly “We don’t have a vaccine yet, misogynist comments and with the Toronto Maple Leafs, division, minimising travel would seek a 50-50 revenue- Health risk issues huge and we don’t really have any said action would be taken. Vegas Golden Knights, Los and expenses. They would also sharing deal similar to what Health issues would also have effective anti-viral treatments,” “There is no place in our Angeles Kings, Capitals and face clubs from the same divi- the NFL and NBA have used. to be solved to the players’ sat- Doolittle asked. “What happens League for such statements, Canucks. AFP sion in the opposite league. That might cause an issue isfaction, as tweets from Wash- if there is a second wave?” AFP 16 THE PHNOM PENH POST may 13, 2020 www.phnompenhpost.com Sport ‘Thrilla in Manila’ changed Ali and Frazier HEN Muham- Ali himself wanted to quit. mad Ali survived His biographer Thomas 14 brutal rounds Hauser told the 2008 docu- with Joe Frazier mentary that at the end of Win the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ 45 the round an Ali cornerman years ago, it wrote a page in heard the champion telling boxing folklore but left both trainer Angelo Dundee to “cut men forever diminished. ‘em [gloves] off. Fought in the Philippines’ “Round 14 was the closest stifling daytime heat, with I’ve seen somebody come to barely functioning air condi- killing somebody,” Ali’s fight tioning, Frazier was beaten doctor Ferdie Pacheco told nearly blind and Ali was on the documentary makers. the verge of surrender. But after the Thrilla, “both In the end, it was Frazier’s men were never the same trainer who threw in the towel again”, said Nick Giongco, a to hand Ali victory on October sports analyst at the Manila 1, 1975, settling their head-to- Bulletin. head 2-1. But the fight came He said that although Ali at a cost to both men. would defend his world title a “Ali and Frazier would never further six times, and regain be the same again, after pour- it in a rematch after losing to ing and spending practically all Leon Spinks in 1978, the self- their power and durability in styled “Greatest of All Time” Manila,” said Philippine box- never fully recovered from ing columnist Recah Trinidad. the “brutal beatdown” Fra- Ali, who had beaten George zier had inflicted. Foreman in the ‘Rumble in Ali would finally hang up the Jungle’ in Zaire – now his gloves in 1981 aged 39, the Democratic Republic of following consecutive losses Congo – a year earlier, came to Larry Holmes and Trevor into the fight at 33, his best Berbick. He retired with a years well behind him. win-loss record of 56-5. They battled inside the The “Louisville Lip” died 25,000-seat Araneta Coliseum Heavyweight boxing champ Muhammad Ali works out in preparation for his epic bout with Joe Frazier in Manila in 1974. aFp nearly four years ago after a long with such ferocity that spec- battle with Parkinson’s disease. tators including Imelda Mar- fight, enraging Frazier, 31, by the men, who were in their US television audiences, but zier’s right eye nearly shut, “Smokin’ Joe” (32-4-1) fought cos, wife of then-Philippine likening him to a giant ape. third and final match-up. the crowd and TV lights over- and he was nearly blind in his only twice more after the Ma- dictator Ferdinand Marcos, “It’s gonna be a thrilla, and One Frazier punch sent Ali’s whelmed the air-conditioning. left due to a training injury. nila epic, being stopped by were spattered with blood. a chilla, and a killa, when I mouthpiece flying into the fifth “At 125 degrees – we were His face soaked in blood, Foreman for a second time in “It was like death. Closest get the gorilla in Manila,” Ali row, but neither fighter fell. fighting each other [as well Frazier argued with his trainer 1976 before coming out of re- thing to dyin’ that I know of,” boasted, coining the nickname as] against the heat,” Frazier Eddie Futch to let him come tirement five years later to draw Ali later said of the bout. that still resonates today. ‘Brutal beatdown’ said in the 2008 documen- out for the 15th round, but with the unheralded Floyd Ali set an acrimonious tone On fight day the momentum The fight in the tropics was tary “Thrilla in Manila”. Futch stopped the fight. Cummings over 10 rounds. in the weeks leading to the swung back and forth between staged in the daytime to suit Ali’s blows had swollen Fra- Later, it was revealed that Frazier died in 2011. AFP

Cyclist in Shaq: NBA should call off 2019-2020 season France gets RETIRED four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal says the league four-year would be smart to call off the halted 2019-2020 campaign and avoid doping ban crowning a champion that would RENCH cyclist Remy Di carry an “asterisk”. Gregorio has been hit with In an interview with USA Today, Fa four-year doping ban O’Neal said players should start to related to a positive drugs test prepare for a 2020-2021 season and for EPO in 2018, the International set aside a campaign halted in March Cycling Union said on Monday. by the coronavirus pandemic with five In a previous case, the Marseille- weeks of regular-season games and born rider was thrown off the 2012 two months of playoffs remaining. Tour de France on suspicion of “I think we should scrap the season. doping after he was arrested at his Everybody go home, get healthy, come team hotel during the race. back next year. Just scrap the season. Just Di Gregorio, 34, has always de- scrap it,” O’Neal told the newspaper. nied doping but was found guilty of “To try and come back now and do possessing banned materials and a rush playoffs as a player? Any team received a one-year suspended that wins this year, there’s an asterisk. prison sentence in July 2018. They’re not going to get the respect. He eventually tested positive “What if a team that’s not really in for the banned blood-booster the mix of things all of a sudden wins EPO during the Paris-Nice race in with a new playoff format? Nobody is March 2018. AFP going to respect that. So, scrap it. Wor- ry about the safety of the fans and the people. Come back next year.” Dominating centre O’Neal com- Four-time champion Shaquille O’Neal says the basketball league should focus on next season. getty Images/afp bined with the late Kobe Bryant and sparked the Los Angeles Lakers to who had LA atop the Western Confer- Orlando most often mentioned as coaches, referees and the broadcast per- NBA crowns from 2000 through 2002, ence when the season went on hia- possible sites for the “bubble” plan. sonnel – are safe from the deadly virus. being named the NBA Finals Most tus, has said no one should be talking “I understand how players are feel- “However long it takes for us to get Valuable Player each time, then pow- about cancelling the season. ing. I really do,” O’Neal told the news- 100 per cent back to normal, I’m will- ered the Miami Heat to the 2006 title. The league has been working on paper. “But any team that gets it done ing to wait,” O’Neal said. O’Neal, 48, retired in 2011 after a plans to gather teams in a single city, this year, there’s going to be an aster- “All it takes is one person. After the 19-season NBA career and has been test and house players in a secured isk on that championship.” game, you’ve still got to go home. working as a television analyst. area and stage games without fans in O’Neal doesn’t want to see any re- What if one person gets sick? Then we France’s Remy Di Gregorio tested positive for EPO. afp Current Lakers star LeBron James, a controlled area, with Las Vegas and sumption unless all involved – players, start from zero again.” AFP