The body of Hun Neng, the older brother of Prime Minister Hun Sen, was buried on May 9 at Sovankiri Rattanak Phnom Pros pagoda in Krala commune’s Trapeang Char village of Kampong Cham province’s Kampong Siem district.

The burial ceremony was attended by national dignitaries, leaders of the National Assembly and Senate, government officials, senior members of the armed forces and hundreds of people.

Hun Neng’s body was taken from the mortuary in Village 7 of Kampong Cham commune and town to be buried at the cemetery after a traditional three-day Buddhist ceremony.

In mourning his beloved brother’s passing, Prime Minister Hun Sen took to Facebook on the night of May 8, recalling that he had arrived at his brother’s last breath, shouted at him, taken his hand and shaken his leg, but with no result other than tears of hopelessness.

“There is something even sadder for our six brothers and sisters – that is the absence of the eldest brother at the funeral of the second brother,” Hun Sen said, referring to his oldest brother Hun San, who is suffering an illness and underwent an operation recently.

“The first brother not only missed the funeral of the second brother, but he is so far unaware that his younger brother has passed.

“I forbade his children to tell him about his brother’s death, as he had just left the operating theatre in Bangkok, Thailand, and his health was still weak. We don’t know what will happen when he receives the news that his brother lost his life without anyone notifying him. This is the sad prospect that hangs over the next few days,” the premier said.

Hun Sinath, the younger sister of Hun Neng, also took to social media saying that her brother, sister, nephew and grandsons bowed and prayed for the soul of their brother, uncle and grandfather to rest in peace.

“Today is the last time I say good bye to you, brother. May your soul go to heaven,” she said.

Hun Many, president of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and Hun Neng’s nephew, posted pictures of his uncle’s funeral along with touching parting messages: “With sadness … I dedicate my prayers that the soul of Uncle Hun Neng be reborn in heaven.”

The late Hun Neng – a lawmaker representing Kampong Cham province who is also a member of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee and chairman of its 4th Commission on Interior, National Defence and Public Works – passed away at 6.25pm on May 5 at the age of 72.

King Norodom Sihamoni on May 7 issued a Royal Decree to bestow the late Hun Neng with the royal title Samdech Udom Tep Nhean Hun Neng.