PhnomPenhPost-Feb 1, 2023
Officials have flatly rejected Transparency International’s (TI) 2022 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which ranked Cambodia 150th out of 180 countries. The Kingdom was ranked 157th the previous year. In Southeast Asia, only Myanmar ranked lower. In the Asia-Pacific region, Cambodia is only ahead of Myanmar and North Korea on the index. Government spokesman Phay Siphan dismissed TI rankings, saying its research and data collection methods are inconsistent with international principles and does not reflect scientific facts about Cambodia. “The report does not clearly state their measures of scientific evaluation, only quantitative evaluation. This means its findings are not scientific and, in our assessment, are merely the opinion of one organization,” he added. Soy Chanvichet, a spokesman for the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU), said the body has never recognized TI reports as they are “inconsistent” with international principles and “completely contrary” to the facts.
“Having said that, the ACU always pays close attention to any recommendations that might increase the efficiency of its work in relation to the fight against corruption in Cambodia,” he said. Chanvichet said the government has paid particular attention to the anti-corruption work that has already been carried out and has plans to make Cambodia a clean society. Pech Pisey, executive director of TI Cambodia, praised the government for its efforts to gradually reduce small-scale corruption in recent years, noting that the Kingdom took many measures including public financial management reform, one-window service offices and fiscal management. Rights group ADHOC spokesman Soeng Sen Karuna suggested that the government take stock of the index. Read more at: https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-rebuffs-ti-graft-index
