PRIME Minister Hun Sen’s father, who died Friday, will be laid to rest later this week near his wife’s crypt in Vongkut Borei Pagoda in Toek Thla commune, Sen Sok district.

On Wednesday, the body of Hun Neang, 89, who died just after 4am on Friday, will be placed inside a crypt built for him that will stand adjacent to the one holding the remains of his wife, Dy Pok, who died in 1998 at the age of 79, Kem Gunnawadh, director-general of national television station TVK told the Post yesterday.

“Traditionally, the people who live along the river will place the remains of someone who passes away in a crypt,” Gunnawadh said. “Hun Neang’s body will be placed in a crypt near his wife on July 17,” adding that the information came from the official funeral schedule.

Neang had long suffered health issues and had not been seen in public since 2011. In the 18 months leading up to Neang’s death, Hun Sen publicly expressed concerns over his father’s health and occasionally cancelled trips to tend to him. In a speech last month, the premier announced his condition had worsened and he was receiving blood transfusions.

Since Neang’s death, a host of heads of state and foreign ministers have sent personal letters of condolence to the premier.

King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, both of whom made public appearances with Hun Sen in Sihanoukville, visited the prime minister’s home in Phnom Penh – where his father’s body is being kept – on Saturday to pay their personal respects.

Fugitive former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was among the guests who paid respects at the prime minister’s residence.

Neang was born in August 1923 in Kampong Cham’s Stung Trang district. For his work building schools, pagodas and helping poor communities, King Sihamoni in 2011 honoured Neang with the title of Oknha Moha Pheakdey.

Neang fathered six children, and had 30 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren.