Ly Thuch (left) meets with Tan Khee Meng, President of Malaysian Business Chamber of Cambodia on August 18. CMAA
Ly Thuch, first vice-president of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), called on Malaysian investors in Cambodia to continue to support the vision of Prime Minister Hun Sen to make Cambodia mine-free by 2025.
Thuch was presiding over an August 18 ceremony with Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia Eldeen Husaini to accept a donation of $77,700 made by the Malaysian Business Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) to fund mine clearance in Kampong Speu province's Kong Pisey district.
CMAA will use the donation to complete demining in the villages of Roleang Teuk, Ang Dountei and Trapeang Thma in the district’s Sdok commune, with the work scheduled to wrap up by November of this year.
Thuch said Cambodia is close to taking the final steps towards bringing about the end of all of its people’s suffering caused by explosive remnants of war (ERW) and making the dream of a mine-free Kingdom by 2025 become a reality.
“The stakes have never been higher for mine action in Cambodia. I humbly ask you to keep supporting our prime minister's vision and reach further into your network of colleagues and friends to raise the largest amount of funds you can so that we can finish this job together,” he said.
MBCC president Khee Meng said at the event that the landmine clearance journey for Cambodia is now on its final mile and the vision of a mine-free kingdom has been progressing quickly towards full-realisation thanks to the momentum geared up by the “Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action” initiated by Hun Sen and the “untiring efforts” of CMAA in fundraising to reach these milestones.
He recalled that on August 1, a great charity event was organised by MBCC in collaboration with CMAA that was attended by over 500 people from different backgrounds and industries.
“As a result, we raised net proceeds of $67,700 during that charity gala dinner and with the additional donation of $10,000 by Lieutenant General Hun Manet, we arrived at a total amount of $77,700 that we are presenting to CMAA today to make the three villages in Kampong Speu province mine-free,” he said.
He said MBCC is very glad that it is able to participate in the efforts of the Cambodian government and CMAA, adding that it was very important and meaningful to MBCC and the Malaysian community in Cambodia to do its part to fulfil its social responsibilities to their adopted homeland.
“Over the last three decades, many Malaysian companies have grown their businesses here over time and achieved success thanks to the peace, stability and the handsome growth of the gross domestic product of the country during these years.
“Many Malaysian companies have been playing their part by making social contributions besides carrying out their own business activities and the MBCC Charity Gala Dinner was another showcase example of the Malaysian community in Cambodia's care and commitment toward supporting the government in making a better Cambodia,” he noted.
