Prime Minister Hun Sen will divide state land in Kampong Thom province and award titles to more than 9,000 families who currently dwell on it during the Khmer New Year celebrations.

The decision was announced by Minister of Tourism Thong Khon – also the government working group chief for Kampong Thom province – on April 7. Khon, accompanied by provincial governor Nguon Ratanak, read out the March 30 government circular that was issued by cabinet.

The circular stated that the prime minister had personally approved the subdivision of land in Zone 2 of the Tonle Sap Lake. The land will be re-zoned as Zone 1, and handed over to 9,114 families in five out of the nine districts of Kampong Thom province.

Governor Ratanak said that after seeing the difficulties that some local people had faced, the government had decided to subdivide the land so the residents would have total rights to use it.

He said this was a spectacular gift for the upcoming Khmer New Year.

He added that Prime Minister Hun Sen is always mindful of both the hardships and happiness of the people.

He ordered the working group to denote the boundaries of the families new plots and secure the titles as promptly as possible – ahead of the start of the rainy season.