(Phnom Penh): On Thursday afternoon (Jun. 4), Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Acting Head of State of Cambodia, revealed four key notes he made to Kong Vibol, Director General of the General Department of Taxation, regarding economic reforms in tax collection.
Sharing images of the notes on social media, Samdech Techo wrote:
"I have just rediscovered my handwritten notes on a letter from Kong Vibol concerning public financial management reforms, particularly revenue collection for the national budget.
Prime minister's intervention in support of the tax administration was not only free from error but also demonstrated a critical strength essential for the success of state reforms, particularly in public financial management, which serves as the foundation for advancements in other sectors.
These four key notes became a driving force that helped Cambodia move beyond a period of cash shortages for paying civil servants’ salaries (when salaries were low and there was even insufficient cash to disburse them) to a situation where the government not only had adequate funds to make salary payments but was also able to increase salaries for civil servants and the armed forces.
We now have financial resources available for public investment projects, including roads, bridges, irrigation canals, schools, hospitals, as well as for implementing social protection policies and other public expenditures.
Our economic resilience has been clearly demonstrated since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic in 2020 and continues to the present. Throughout this period, we have maintained sufficient financial resources to increase salaries and implement a twice-monthly salary payment system, while also carrying out social protection policies and financing other public investment programs.
At that time, my notes were sharper than the edge of a sword. Yet I was neither afraid nor willing to back down, because they were in the best interests of the nation and its people.
Cambodia differs from many other countries because we had to rebuild everything from scratch after the fall of Pol Pot regime. Therefore, the prime minister had to possess the courage to act and the willingness to take responsibility.”
=FRESH NEWS
