Phnom penh: Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, led the opening of a Dissemination Forum focused on the progress and future of Public Financial Management Reform, Public Administration Reform, and the E-Parliament system.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the forum, which took place at the National Assembly Palace, gathered over a thousand participants, including members of the Standing Committee, lawmakers, and Secretariat-General officials. H.E. Leng Peng Long, Secretary-General of the National Assembly, praised the working groups for their efforts, highlighting the importance of these reforms in aligning with the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I of the Royal Government’s 7th Legislature.

H.E. Khoun Davith, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Public Financial Management Reform Working Group, detailed the progress and challenges of the reforms, emphasizing their necessity for a professional and accountable administration. He noted the recognition of the National Assembly’s Public Financial Management Reform by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which is essential for good governance and institutional development.

On the public administration front, H.E. Khoun Davith introduced new initiatives such as multifunctional ID cards for officials and the pilot use of facial recognition for attendance. He also reported that the E-Parliament system is 70 percent complete, with modules like electronic voting and digital management under implementation.

Before her keynote address, Samdech Khuon Sudary honored the Cambodian army’s dedication to national sovereignty. She urged decisive action in reforms, warning against stagnation. She emphasized that reform, though complex, is vital for institutional survival, echoing sentiments from Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet.

Samdech Khuon Sudary called for leadership that ensures fairness, strengthens team spirit, and eliminates egotism, asserting that reform must be based on a clear vision, strong commitment, and honest participation. She acknowledged that these reforms are pivotal for Cambodia’s vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.