PHNOM PENH: After returning from Laos on Tuesday afternoon, 14 February 2023, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced his decision to offer civil state employment to former Voice of Democracy (VOD) staff who lost their jobs after the media outlet was shutdown.

The Prime Minister wrote on his official Facebook page, "Because VOD was shut down and there is no chance of it reopening, and considering the lives of employees who lost their jobs due to the fault of [the media outlet's] leader, I have decided to provide civil state jobs to those who wish to serve in public affairs. Please contact the Ministry of Public Works to apply for a job."

The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Public Works to accept job applications from former VOD staff and to distribute them across various ministries, in accordance with their suited professions, and to ask him for a final decision.

"Let others not interfere in our internal affairs, we would like to confirm that our decision will not be changed," he said. "Foreigners have no right to order us to do this or do that according to their wishes, because this is our internal affairs."

The Prime Minister claims that the closure of one media outlet cannot kill freedom of the press in Cambodia. On the contrary, he says it will help enforce the law and strengthen the ethics of journalism in the Kingdom.

Online media outlet, VOD, officially had its broadcasting license revoked by the Ministry of Information on Monday morning, 13 February 2023, after failing to give an adequate apology to the Royal Government of Cambodia and Lt. Gen. Hun Manet. VOD had published an article misquoting Royal Government Spokesperson, Phay Siphan, stating that Lt. Gen. Hun Manet had signed off on the provision of US $100,000 in aid to Turkey on his father's behalf.