Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - NGOs call for open budget process

NGOs call for open budget process

NGOs call for open budget process

A group of NGOs yesterday called for more detailed information on national budgets to be made public before their approval, maintaining that the public had a right to know about and comment on the expenditures that would ultimately affect their day-to-day lives.

Tek Vannara, director of the umbrella group NGO Forum, said that citizens were too often told by politicians that they prioritised fields like health care and agriculture, only to find after the budget's passage that the lion's share of funding had gone to security and national defence.

In 2011, the government and the National Assembly offered a draft national budget to civil society for review, but since then, the public has been blocked from participating, Vannara said. Presently, the assembly only releases figures for broad sectors of expenditures – such as health and education – and even then, only after the budget has passed.

"They say this is because the time is too short for them to offer us the draft … [but participation] by the public is a major key to filling in the holes to [shape] the draft in response to developmental and social needs," he added.

The 2014 national budget approved last November by the Assembly amounted to $3.4 billion, up $400 million from the year before, with education, security and national defence experiencing the biggest influxes of cash. The budget also included $1.5 billion in unspecified funds, which lawmakers later said would be spent on about a dozen "targets," but which was under the control of Prime Minister Hun Sen.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap, who heads the parliament's finance commission, could not be reached yesterday, but deputy head Son Chhay of the CNRP said he welcomed the NGOs' recommendation, and would implement it when the new draft budget arrives.

"So far, the budget thing has been very secretive because the CPP controlled the National Assembly alone. But now, I have confirmed with the head of commission that the information [on the budget] must be open," he said, adding that he had not yet received the 2015 budget, but when he did – probably later this year – he would disseminate it and hold a forum seeking recommendations.

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom