The Ministry of Information said all journalists who will attend an upcoming annual meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen are required to test for Covid-19 at the ministry headquarters.

The premier’s media forum – a resumption of the tradition after a two-year Covid-19 hiatus – is scheduled to take place at Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre in Phnom Penh on January 14.

In a January 11 notice, the ministry said the requirements have been carefully designed to maintain order and protect public welfare.

“All journalists must submit to a Covid-19 test at the new building of the ministry’s General Department of Information and Audiovisual Media on January 13,” it said.

“The leadership of ministries, spokespersons of state institutions and capital-provincial administrations may self-test and present their results upon arrival at the venue of the forum,” it said.

Participants are required to wear their pass at all times. Cameras, selfie sticks and backpacks will be banned from the venue.

Earlier this week, Hun Sen said he would welcome questions from the assembled journalists.

Baring a two-year halt owing to the Covd-19 pandemic, the premier has traditionally set January 14 aside to meet with the media.

Information minister Khieu Kanharith said the meeting is held to promote the development of the information sector by building the relationship between journalists and the spokespeople from state institutions.

This year, January 14 marks the anniversary of Hun Sen’s first day as the prime minister in 1984, almost 40 years on.