Assembly committee praises S'ville port

The National Assembly’s opposition-led Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday praised the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port for improving its revenue collection following a meeting with its director-general.

Ho Vann, the commission’s head and a Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmaker, said that the commission had been informed by director-general Lu Kim Chhun that revenue collection increased by $5.6 million at the port between 2013 and 2014.

Last year, the port took in some $44.6 million for the national treasury, he said.

“We have listened to the director-general of the port and found that there has been good evolution,” he said.

“Before, 18 containers could be lifted every hour, but now 25 can be lifted” out of ships or put onto ships, he said.

New equipment worth some $14 million was responsible for the increased efficiency, he went on to say.

While he said illegal smuggling was still an issue at the port, Vann did not make any allegations about corruption.

Chhun could not be reached for comment.

San Chey, a fellow for the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in East Asia and the Pacific, said he backed the commission’s glowing view of the port. Although customs has a poor reputation for corruption, he said reforms made last year, which included reshuffling officials, had seen tax collection improve.

“So what the opposition party [lawmaker] says is reliable.”