The Cambodia National Rescue Party reportedly raised nearly $35,000 in one day of fundraising to finance what party chief Sam Rainsy affirmed over the weekend will be an objective TV station, which will deal with issues such as border disputes, corruption and land grabs.

Addressing a hundreds-strong crowd during a fundraiser at the CNRP’s headquarters in Phnom Penh’s Chak Angre Leu commune on Saturday, Rainsy declared the creation of Sun TV a turning point in the country’s political history.

“This is the first time in Cambodia’s history that an opposition party has had its own television station,” Rainsy said in a speech posted on his Facebook page, adding that the station “will show the true situation in Cambodia”.

Seemingly making good on his pledge, Rainsy went on to say that Sun TV, which is slated to go on air by year’s end, would not “twist the truth” about border spats with Vietnam, and that it would be non-corrupt.

Meanwhile, CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann said yesterday that the party has already received more than $30,000 and more than 17 million riel ($4,100) after the first day of fundraising, but still needs to collect money for a studio and other materials.