Interior minister Sar Kheng and his wife Nhem Sakhan during the ceremony at Phnom Banan temple in Battambang province’s Banan district on July 2. SAR KHENG VIA FB
Minister of Interior Sar Kheng on July 2 led a prayer service for peace at Phnom Banan temple in Battambang province’s Banan district.
The ceremony was aimed at both invoking peace for the people and ensuring a smooth, non-violent process for the upcoming national election.
Deputy provincial governor Soeum Bunrith noted that the ceremony at the temple, which he said is already a revered site of devotion, was organised not solely for election time but as a sincere plea for tranquillity for all Cambodians.
“This ceremony is to ask for peace and happiness, not only for the residents of Battambang but also for all citizens across the country,” he explained.
He added that the service underscored the government’s commitment to addressing pervasive societal issues such as landmines, drugs and traffic accidents.
“This prayer service is also to ask for the safety of all Cambodian people, and it is timely for the election period, so we also pray for a smooth and non-violent process for the national election,” he added.
This reiterates the anticipation of a harmonious and secure election period, a topic at the forefront of national consciousness.
The selection of Phnom Banan temple for the service was deliberate, given its long-established status as a place of prayer attracting worshippers from all over the country. The temple, laden with spiritual significance, offers an appropriate backdrop for prayers for peace.
Sar Kheng’s history of commitment to peace and prosperity, including through prayer, is long-standing and can be traced back to the beginning of his tenure as a member of parliament representing the Battambang constituency since the inaugural parliamentary election in 1993.
This annual ritual – persisting through the tenures of former provincial governor Prach Chan to the incumbent, Sok Lou – symbolises an enduring spirit of peace and unity in the face of adversity.
“This prayer is tantamount to asking our Cambodian people to be safe, to travel near and far, and now it is time for the election season to ask for the election to go well without any violence with order and social security,” he said.
