Cambodian officials told to declare assets

Jan 05, 2011
Source: AFP

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA has ordered more than 100,000 government officials to declare their personal assets starting from this month in a bid to fight rampant corruption, an official said on Wednesday.

Senior officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, must make confidential declarations of property, vehicles, business interests and other assets, said Keo Remy, spokesman for the government's National Council for Anti-Corruption.

'It is historic for our country,' he told AFP.

Mr Keo Remy said the officials would be required to report their assets to the country's newly established Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), but the details would not be made public.

'The asset declaration by the officials will be done in secret,' he said.

'We have to safeguard each official's physical and mental safety, and also the country's political stability in particular.' The deadline for the asset declaration had not been set, he said. -- AFP