PHNOM PENH: The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Ly Raksmey, has said that he is now studying technical characteristics to maintain the quality of buildings under construction so that accidents will not occur when construction is discontinued.
Speaking to reporters after a press conference at the Council of Ministers on Wednesday morning, 24 August, Secretary of State Ly Raksmey said he was concerned about the possible impact buildings can have when construction is abandoned.
He said, "Especially in Sihanoukville! Of course, construction that is left for a long time will have quality problems, but we can respond to this. If construction and investor's investment is not continued, there must still be proper maintenance of the structure. Because generally these buildings usually have problems five years after they are complete, if they are not maintained, and especially when construction has not been complete.”
The Director General of Administration at the Ministry of Land Management and Spokesperson, Seng Lot, said that the failure to complete some construction work in Cambodia was caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the world economy and halted construction projects across the globe. He said that in Cambodia, the highest number of unfinished construction sites currently lie in Sihanoukville, where there are between 80 to 100 unfinished buildings in the province.
"I have been seeing this figure for almost a year now," he said. "So far, there may be more changes and the number will not increase, only decrease, because those who can afford to build now continue construction.”
He believes that through government mechanisms to revive the economy during and after the Covid-19 crisis, it will be possible for investors to complete their construction projects.
"I am confident that the [construction] stalemate will soon be resolved," he said. "The private sector also has to make a name for itself in order to complete its projects so that it can benefit from these project as soon as possible. Because [abandoned buildings] have already been paid for, but [investors] do not get results from that.”
Secretary of State Ly Raksmey also acknowledged this point in his remarks, saying that after Cambodia reopened its economy at the end of 2021, there appears to be a trend of returning investors to the country.
