Prime Minister Hun Manet explained that promoting the Minister of Civil Service to Deputy Prime Minister was necessary and that it would apply to any individual who holds the position, not just Hun Many.

Manet’s clarification came in response to criticism after civil service minister Hun Many received a vote of confidence from the National Assembly (NA), following Manet’s request to appoint him as Deputy Prime Minister, on February 21. 

Some opposition groups, which Manet did not name, alleged that the promotion was due to the fact that Many is his younger brother.

“If the administration [civil service ministry] carries very little weight, how can it instruct other ministries to implement reforms? Or do you expect me to do all the work by myself? Therefore, it was necessary,” he said at the awards ceremony for model primary and secondary schools, as well as health centres, on the morning of February 22.

He said the civil service ministry plays a major role in overseeing reforms for all ministries and other state institutions, and if the leader of the ministry only held the rank of minister, it would be difficult to establish hierarchy and give orders to other ministries of equal rank.

The National Assembly (NA) gives a vote of confidence for Hun Many (left) as deputy prime minister and for Sry Thamarong (centre) and Pen Vibol (right) as senior ministers on February 21. NA