Mixed Views on Cabinet Reshuffle

[geovalin]

KhmerTimes/Chheang Vannarith

Last Friday, Prime Minister Hun Sen revealed his much-anticipated new Cabinet members – six ministers were shifted to helm other ministries, while two deputy prime ministers and one minister were set to retire. The reshuffle is regarded as a big move by the long-ruling Cambodian People’s Party with the hope that it can regain public trust and confidence after the watershed election in 2013.

Two ministries that will undergo critical reforms are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which will be led by Prak Sokhon, and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, which will be led by Sun Chanthol. These two promising candidates have earned public trust and confidence based on their past performance. Local observers welcomed the Cabinet reshuffle but with reservations. Some local analysts have even expressed their disappointment that PM Hun Sen is not bold enough to dismiss low-performing Cabinet ministers.

Mr. Hun Sen tends to use “carrot” more than “stick” to deal with his loyal Cabinet members. Decision-making based on loyalty and emotion detracts from his reform path and efforts, which in turn harms his administration’s credibility in ratcheting up results-oriented reforms. Low-performing ministries include the Agriculture, Public Works and Transport and Health. The ministers of these three ministries have been left, however, generally unscathed.

read more: http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22976/mixed-views-on-cabinet-reshuffle/

[geovalin]

Cabinet Reshuffle Just Cosmetic, Critics say

Khmer Times/Taing Vida

Sunday, 20 March 2016

165 views

Despite the prime minister’s dramatic announcement last week about the reshuffling of his Cabinet – including his insistence that it needed to be kept secret to avoid leaks on social media – analysts and the opposition said over the weekend that the reshuffle was more of a stir than a shakeup.

“The opposition’s opponent [the ruling Cambodian People’s Party] is currently running, or trying to run,” Cambodia National Rescue Party acting president Kem Sokha told CNRP supporters in Pursat province yesterday. Although the ruling party was making an effort to reform its government, the changes are superficial and fail to address systemic problems plaguing the country, Mr. Sokha said. He also said the reshuffle showed the CPP was afraid of losing the next election. “They are worried we may overtake them.

“Lately, they made reforms and this is a positive step that we acknowledged, but we have yet to see the results because the problems have not been solved systematically,” Mr. Sokha explained. “The CNRP is gaining more supporters and strength,” he added.

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22989/cabinet-reshuffle-just-cosmetic--critics-say/