Phnom Penh: Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Pheung Sakona has requested the Thai government to provide further information and documents of the Sihanakorn Temple currently constructed at Borei Ram province, following allegations that it is copying the style and designs of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat. The request was made by the Minister on Wednesday during her meeting with the Thai Ambassador in Cambodia Panyarak Poolthup.

The statement that was released by the Ministry says, “In this regard, the Minister requested the Thai side to cooperate in providing specific information and official documents on the project of the construction of the stone temple in Borei Ram province, so that the Cambodian side has a basis to review the decision to continue. [It is also to] avoid any negative effects that may occur and affect the relationship between the two countries."

On the first week of July, the Royal Government announced an investigation of the construction of an alleged replica of Angkor Wat in Thailand. Images of building work at Sihanakorn Temple in Thailand’s Buriram Province, over the border from Oddar Meanchey, started surfacing on social media that created an outburst of anger from the Cambodian people.

Shortly after, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts released a statement that the project being constructed in Borei Ram Province was not going to be a copy of Angkor Wat. However, this Wednesday’s meeting, the issue has resurfaced prompting the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to request for further details. Thai Ambassador Poolthup has vowed to respond to the request of the Ministry.