PHNOM PENH: Interim prime minister Hun Sen announced that all officials ranked as Secretaries of State and below will keep their positions as the government transitions based on the July 23 election. While ministers have been asked to give up their positions in exchange for seats the National Assembly, Secretaries of State, Undersecretaries of State and advisors to the Royal Government who have already been appointed will maintain their roles.

In a voice message on July 29, Prime Minister Hun Sen said, "I have thoroughly discussed the matter with Dr. Hun Manet (future PM), Aun Pornmoniroth (Minister of Economy), and Keut Rith (Minister of Justice), who continue to hold dialogue about the process ahead. Please do not worry about things related to what I have to do, the only thing that needs to be reformed is the Ministers Attached to the Prime Minister."

He added that some of existing Ministers Attached to the Prime Minister who had two positions at the same time such as Secretary of State will have to choose whether they will continue as Secretaries of State or stay in their current roles. The two positions exempted from the announcement are the Director General of Taxation and the Director General of Customs, who could also serve as Ministers Attached to the PM, as both have to work directly with ministers and the Prime Minister himself.