OPPOSITION Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Ho Vann told the Post on Wednesday that he had not denigrated the quality of postgraduate degrees recently awarded by a Vietnamese institute to more than 20 high-ranking RCAF officials, calling a news report that he had done so "a misunderstanding".

He said he supported soldiers' desire to further their education, adding that he also believed they should combine their "scientific knowledge" with moral leadership.

"I did not say that those degrees are worthless," he said. "I just said that being a leader requires having a good moral education also."