Prime Minister Hun Manet has reiterated that the people of Cambodia will never be disappointed that they have put their trust in the government, adding that the government will never stop striving for the nation and its people.

Manet met with nearly 20,000 workers from 29 factories and large enterprises in Kandal province on November 2.

“Brothers and sisters, please believe me. You will not be disappointed. As the head of government, I give you my assurances. All government institutions, both at the national and sub-national-level, are working to prepare policies, plans and projects that will be implemented during the current mandate. We are doing this solely to benefit the people,” he added.

He continued that the goal of the government is to unlock benefits for this generation of Cambodians and the next. They will continue to do so long into the future.

Manet said that in the months prior to forming the new government, he conducted a step-by-step study of his future plans, based on pragmatism, not theory. He made field visits and met as many people as he could in person, in order to gather as much information as possible from all relevant sides. This included everyone from trade unions and the private sector, to ordinary workers and other members of the public.

“This stage was of prime importance. It gave me the chance to convince the public that the government that was elected by the people on July 23 was not sitting silently, but actively considering the plans, working directions and policies it would introduce, in order to ensure the people were warm and happy,” he added.

“You must understand that what the government continues to do is in the cause of the Kingdom and its people. We are striving to improve the livelihoods of our people, because the people own the country and the people decide the fate of the country,” he continued.

The government and the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) were not a silent monolith, and would not fail to deliver on their pre-election promises, but was delivering them on a step-by-step basis.

“It is true that we cannot solve every issue in 40, 60, 90, or 100 days, or even one year or four, regardless of what people want. Remember, people don’t just have needs for four years, they are ongoing,” he said.

Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, noted that the CPP-led government has secured peace for the people and the nation until now.

“The remarks of the prime minister were correct, because since the CPP has led the government, it has guaranteed peace and development for the people. There is nothing difficult to understand about this,” he said.

He added that many parties had contested the July elections, but the CPP gained a firm foothold. To maintain its momentum, it needed to make reforms on a regular basis. Even former Prime Minister Hun Sen acknowledged that reform was life. No reform means death.

“That’s what the CPP and the government need to do. If the CPP offered no real reform, it might face competition from other parties,” said Peou. “The people will consider this.”