PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomed a meeting from the former Phnom Penh Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP), Yang Saing Koma, and his colleagues at the Peace Palace on Monday, 28 November, after he and another member of the GDP announced their decision to defect and join the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).

Prime Minister Hun Sen posted six pictures on his official social media pages on Monday, from the meeting between him and the Minister of Agriculture, Dith Tina, Yang Saing Koma, and Lek Sothea.

"Just met with the Minister of Agriculture Dith Tina, Yang Sang Koma and Lek Sothea [to discuss] agricultural work that they both [want to do] with the Cambodian People's Party,” wrote the Prime Minister.

Yang Saing Koma received a Doctorate in Agriculture from Germany in 1995. He has expressed ambitions to develop Cambodia's agricultural sector, and has spent time working with Cambodian farmers. He was a member of the Grassroots Democratic Party since 2016, until his departure on 23 November 2022.

In a letter addressed to the President of the CPP, Prime Minister Hun Sen, Yang Saing Koma wrote that the reason he decided to join the CPP was because he saw that the Royal Government was implementing the right policies to develop the agricultural sector, which he has confidence will benefit farmers.

“I am confident that the introduction of these new realistic policies will bring benefits to the people as a whole," he wrote. “These policies reflect my existing knowledge, skills, and work experience in agriculture.”

Yang Saing Koma said he hopes that after joining the CPP, he will have the opportunity to participate in the implementation of these policies successfully and fruitfully in order to improve the lives of farmers, food security, the environment and the national economy.