Phnom Penh (FN), Feb. 19 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet clarified that the budget used to promote his Facebook page does not come from the national budget. Samdech Thipadei emphasised that it is not only him using Facebook Boost, but political leaders worldwide also utilise similar promotional tools to enhance their social media presence.
The premier spoke on Wednesday (Feb. 19) at the graduation for students of the Asia Europe University, held at Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Centre.
“I did not intend to address this issue, as my spokesperson has already explained it once. However, criticism regarding my Facebook page continues. Last night, I even saw social analysts discussing it. It is not that I do not understand the matter, but I simply prefer not to comment,” the premier underscored.
Samdech Thipadei continued, “The promotion of my Facebook page is a matter of necessity, not for others to dictate. My Facebook page is private, unlike the National Television of Cambodia (TVK), so I have every right to invest in advertising and promotional activities.”
The premier further explained, “As a political leader, I need to communicate with my people, and they need to stay informed about me. Besides public speeches at events, I also engage with the public through my Facebook page, something I have been doing long before becoming Prime Minister.”
“I am not the only one using Facebook Boost to promote content. Many political leaders worldwide rely on Facebook advertising. In fact, some leaders spend significantly more than I do. For instance, former US President Donald Trump spent USD 134 million on Facebook promotion between 2018 and 2024. Similarly, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos spent USD 20 million on Facebook advertising during the 2020 election. Several ASEAN leaders also use Facebook Boost or TikTok Boost to reach a wider audience,” the premier added.
Regarding the funding source, Samdech Thipadei clarified, “Over the past few years, I have not used a single fund from the national budget for Facebook Boost. Some critics argue that this is a waste of money that does not benefit the people, but I firmly believe that my outreach efforts do contribute to public engagement and communication.”
It is worth noting that a foreign media outlet recently published a report accusing the premier of spending over USD 1 million from national funds on Facebook promotions to increase viewership.
=FRESH NEWS
