PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen shared that the decision to promote his eldest son, Hun Manet, to the highest rank of 4-star General was made by the Minister of National Defense, DPM Tea Banh, and the Prime Minister himself, without prior notification to Hun Manet.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony for students of Vanda Institute on Wednesday morning, 22 March 2023, at the Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh, the Prime Minister explained that the law states the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces must be a 4-Star General, but Hun Manet repeatedly refused to accept a promotion. Because of this, he and the Minister of Defense held off from requesting the King to promote Hun Manet.

However, now, after several years, the Prime Minister and DPM Tea Banh unanimously decided to go forward with promoting Hun Manet's rank.

"Look, I asked [Hun Manet], but he refused to accept," said Prime Minister Hun Sen.

The Prime Minister also thanked those who have directed attacks at Hun Manet, saying that the stronger these attacks are, the stronger Hun Manet becomes.

He further reaffirmed that Hun Manet is still the chosen future Prime Ministerial candidate of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).