The Ministry of Interior has asked the government to grant what would have been the new location of the Ministry of Environment in Meanchey district’s Niroth commune to the newly created General Departments of Identification and Immigration instead, according to an official spokesman.

Sao Sopheap, a public information officer for the Ministry of Environment (MoE), confirmed yesterday that the government had directed them to return the property to the company, Ratanak Corporation and Construction, which then sold it on to the Ministry of Interior (MoI).

“It is the work of the company with the MoI,” Sopheap said.

In 2011, the MoE signed a contract with Ratanak Corporation and Construction to exchange its building on Sihanouk Boulevard for the new location, but it was postponed.

The ministry ended up moving to a new spot in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs near NagaWorld, but it’s unclear who will take over its former home on Sihanouk.