The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has urged government officials and civil servants to be more attentive in providing better public services to citizens and heeding their requests as the party eyes a near-certain victory in the next general election.

The CPP made the appeal at its Mass Movement Congress in Phnom Penh’s Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre on December 21-22. The event is aimed at strengthening the party’s policies on unions, youth, and women movements throughout the country.

CPP spokesman Sok Eysan told The Post on Monday that Prime Minister Hun Sen, who presided over the closing ceremony on Sunday, wrapped up the party’s achievements for the year and set goals for its action plan to compete in the 2022 and 2023 elections.

“He [Hun Sen] addressed the congress until 4pm because there were a lot of issues concerning our mass movement to be successful in the 2022 and 2023 elections.

“There are a lot of tasks to be carried out involving union work, youth, and women, so each of us has a lot to do.

“The major target is the building of a mass movement, which is a bridge linking the party to all citizens so that they understand our political platform and gain confidence in our leadership,” he said.

Eysan said that over the years, the CPP had faced challenges caused by the opposition party which breached the principles of democracy and attempted to stage a colour revolution to topple the government.

He said the CPP had been successful in building solid internal solidarity and will continue to thwart such attempts from opposition groups inside and outside the country. This, Eysan said, will unite the CPP with the people in solidarity to protect the peace, political stability and happiness.

On his Facebook page on Monday, a day after the congress, Hun Sen posted his deep thanks to CPP members throughout the Kingdom and those of the mass movement of the CPP Central Committee who participated in achieving many great successes for the nation.

“It is clear that the CPP, in any circumstances, always stays with the people and made efforts to strengthen solidarity and expand all resources to promote the development, building and protection of the nation,” Hun Sen said.

He continued: “Meanwhile, we have to continue to maintain peace and political and social stability so that Cambodia has more opportunities to develop as a nation.

“As the CPP is on the right track and protects the rights and freedoms of citizens, up to now only the party received support from all sectors of society, including members of other political parties. This made us stronger, and helped us win elections and grow.”

Political analyst Em Sovannara said that generally, a party has to instruct and remind officials in its party to prepare for the electoral contests.

“The CPP follows this mechanism to be successful in electoral contests, but Hun Sen’s advise to reform officials at the grassroots level have not been implemented as per his [Hun Sen’] advice,” he said.

Sovannara said: “Grassroots officials have not followed what national-level officials introduced. They have still not paid enough attention to villagers as those who need services from local authorities still cannot obtain them as per the government’s requirements.”

Sok Touch, the president of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, declined to comment while Meas Nee could not be reached to comment on the CPP’s goals to succeed in the 2022 and 2023 elections.