KANDAL: In Cambodia, rank and status are important and often complicated, sometimes leaving room for confusion and competition. In order to address some of these issues, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that a law is being drafted to clarify roles and ranking within his new administration in a way that honors both seniority and individual qualifications.

In a speech from September 1, the PM said that moving forward, those appointed as government advisors would no longer be given additional titles, which are often equal to the status of secretary of state or other high rankings. In Cambodia, a civil servant such as a teacher, police officer or governor, is sometimes promoted as an assistant to a minister and given a rank equivalent to a political official such as secretary of state, which comes with a “His/Her Excellency” title. This has made public events where officials are arranged by rank complicated and presented opportunities for competition or resentments. According to the prime minister, a draft law will divide and clarify the roles of civil servants.

Civil servants who already hold titles equal to political officials have six months to decide if they want to keep their role as advisors and civil servant, without the higher rank; or to give up their civil servant role and become a full-time advisor with a rank equal to a political official.

In the same speech, the prime minister noted the importance of appointing more advisors for their qualifications and skills that they contribute to relevant ministries. He reminded ministers to prepare new officials to strengthen their institutions along with maintaining internal unity, but that they needed to focus on the qualifications, ability and seniority of officials. He said, "The CPP is not in the habit of burning down bridges,” apparently referring to the Cambodian People’s Party policy of “Keep the old, grow the new”, which mandates that senior officials should not be brushed aside, but that new members should also be given opportunities.