PHNOM PENH: The Minister of Interior, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, announced that he will depart to France on Monday, 2 May, to undergo a health check-up. The Deputy Prime Minister is set to return next week.

In a statement issued on Monday, 2 May 2022, the Minister of Interior’s cabinet stated that this current visit to France comes after the Deputy Prime Minister underwent a successful medical examination and treatment in France in early September 2021, and it was the doctor's requirement to return for a health check-up.

In September 2021, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng was absent from the country for two weeks as he underwent a medical examination and surgery in France, although his diagnosis has not been publicly announced. It was falsely reported by the opposition at the time that the Deputy Prime Minister also planned to meet with former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, however, this claim was immediately rejected by the Deputy Prime Minister’s Cabinet.