Phnom Penh: His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni has written to Prime Minister Hun Sen asking him to proceed with the constitutional amendment that would mandate only Khmer nationality for the nation’s top office bearers.

The King penned his letter on Monday after receiving one from the Constitutional Council, informing him that the proposed amendments are lawful and will not impede the functioning of the Royal Government or the monarchy.

He wrote, “I have received a letter from the Constitutional Advisory on the Initiative to Amend Article 19 New, Article 82 New, Article 106 New (a), Article 119 New and Article 137 new of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and Articles 3 and 4 of the Additional Constitution to ensure normal functioning of National Institutions to determine that the President of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, the Prime Minister and the President of the Constitutional Council must be dignitaries with a unique Khmer nationality. I would like to hand over to Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo the letter from His Excellency Kittinikosal Bandit, President of the above Constitutional Council, for processing.”

The amendments will now move to the National Assembly where they will need a two thirds majority to be approved. The amendments came in response to an incorrect report in Britain’s The Guardian newspaper that Prime Minister Hun Sen was holding a Cypriot passport.