PHNOM PENH: Secretary of State of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Secretary General of the Disability Action Council, Em Chan Makara, congratulated Prime Minister Hun Sen on receiving the title "Patron" from the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB). The Secretary of State said that this title is fitting of the Prime Minister’s dedication to peace and Buddhism for more than 30 years, which has kept the country in religious harmony under the protection of peace.

Secretary of State Em Chan Makara stated that the honor that Prime Minister Hun Sen received from the WFB on May 2, 2023 is in recognition of his wise leadership in maintaining and safeguarding Cambodia's peace and stability.

"Patron" is the title bestowed on the top leaders of governments and religion who generously maintain, obey, support and uphold the values of Buddhism along with actions in line with the WFB.

The President of the WFB, Phalop Thai Ari, said in a ceremony at Wat Phnom to honor Prime Minister Hun Sen on the morning of May 2, that the highest honor was bestowed due to the PM’s effective peace-building process resulting in longstanding national unification.

Currently eight monks and world leaders are named as “Patron” by the WFB including the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand, former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, the President of Sri Lanka, the King of Thailand, the President of Thailand, the President of Nepal, the President of India, the Prime Minister of Thailand and the President of the Buddhist Federation of Japan.