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The Mirror, Vol. 13, No. 602

“Phnom Penh: A US$17 million loan from the World Bank to build referral hospitals at provinces as well as many health centers and posts has been stalled for two years, because of a lack of management competency of foreign advisors from LBG [unclear what LBG stands for in the original – maybe the quantity surveyor company LBG-NGT Corporation from Tuas/Singapore – but maybe not]. This was stated by construction bidders who attended biddings to implement this project.

“Construction bidders criticized that for two years, there has been no construction, but there were one or two biddings. Because of this slowness, the construction of up to 10 referral hospitals and many health centers and posts in most provinces, worth more than US$10 million, has been stalled until now.

“The same source added that though recruitment for the construction project was transferred to IPA [unclear what IPA stands for in the original – maybe the recruitment company Independence Procurement Agency – but maybe not] by the Ministry of Economy and Finance recently, this project still faces the possibility of failure. It is said that the trouble originates from the LBG advisors .

“The source blamed that the technical advisors of LBG are incompetent to do the managing, and furthermore, in the plans, there are no calculations based on standard formulas and on proper construction standards. This is a major obstacle for the construction bidders, and even though many companies had protested against the mistakes of the LBG technical advisors, there was no action taken by the Healthcare Services Specification Project of the Ministry of Health.

“According to the bidders, the project was put for bidding again for a second time at the end of 2008, but still there were not many bidders attending. There will be a third bidding, and this may be continue forever.

“Bidders know well that even if one or two more biddings are held, there still will be no bidders.

“Moreover, the rushed delivering of contracts for two projects, the Kampot and the Stung Treng referral hospitals, worth more than US$2 million, in mid February 2009 by IPA, leads to a loss of tens of thousands of dollars, because the price of the bidding for this project was 60% to 80% higher compared to the formerly calculated price.

“The source went on to say that the construction processes at most places have been stalled for years, which makes the expenses for technical advisors to increase by more than 20%, which is most highly problematic. Bidders criticized this and also requested that leaders of the Ministry of Health should check the contracts between the ministry and LBG advisors urgently. At the same time, they have to recheck the management system at the secretariat supporting the heath sector.

“Bidders still remember Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen’s former words, saying that substantial expenses for foreign advisor services were right. Bidders emphasize that this is not acceptable. Everyone knows that better health services in rural areas are desperately needed by citizens almost everywhere, and also in this priority sector of the Royal Government, which is to be strengthened. Thus, the above source calls on the Ministry of Health to thoroughly check and take action against any negative points, or any individual who wastes a lot of national resources, because all money to support the health sector comes from all Cambodian citizens who will have to repay the loan to the World Bank in the future.

“Regarding what is mentioned above, Rasmei Kampuchea tried to contact the secretariat of the Ministry of Health, and LBG, for explanations, but could not reach them.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4835, 3.3.2009

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Tuesday, 3 March 2009

Cheat Khmer, Vol.1, #29, 3.3.2009

• Co-Lawyers of [former Khmer Rouge leader] Nuon Chea Ask the Khmer Rouge Tribunal to Question [former King] Samdech Sihanouk, [Prime Minister and Vice-President of the Cambodian People’s Party – CPP] Hun Sen, [President of the Senate and President of the CPP] Chea Sim and [President of the National Assembly and Honorary President of the CPP] Heng Samrin [because they were former leaders with high positions in the Khmer Rouge regime]
• Mr. Sam Rainsy Seeks Intervention by the Inter-Parliamentary Union to Restore His Immunity

Deum Ampil, Vol.3, #129, 3.3.2009

• Thailand Provides Baht 1.4 Billion Loan [approx. US$39 million] to Cambodia to Construct Road 68 from Ou Smach [in Oddar Meanchey] to Siem Reap
• In 2010, Cambodia Will Host Military Exercises between ASEAN and the United States of America [according commander-in-chief Pol Sarouen]
• Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva Praises [anti-government] Red-Shirt Demonstrators for Not Causing Violence [during the ASEAN summit]

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.8, #1887, 3.3.2009

• Former Khmer Rouge Fist Lady [Ieng Thirith] Puts All Blame on Nuon Chea [during a hearing on 24 February 2009]
• Troops at the Preah Vihear Region Face Serious Shortage of Water [because water in ponds or from a waterfall dry out]

Khmer Aphivaot Sethakech, Vol. 7, #353, 3.3.2009

• Bilateral Talks about Khmer-Siamese [Thai] Border Disputes Will Be Held in April 2009; Khmer Troops Arrested a Thai Soldier with a Mine in Khmer Territory Who Planned to Plant a Mine Near [Khmer] Barracks [Anlong Veng, Oddar Meanchey]

Koh Santepheap, Vol.42, #6592, 3.3.2009

• Problems Faced by the City: Crimes, Sexual Problems, Traffic, Orders, Land Disputes, Flooding, and Public Services
• Because Repeatedly Being Asked for Land, an Old Man Could Not Bare It and Took a Machete to Behead His Son [he was arrested, Kompong Cham]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.17, #4835, 3.3.2009

• Bidding Constructers: US$17 Million Plan to Construct Health Buildings Is Stalled by Foreign Advisors
• Cambodian Government Seeks Solutions [with Thailand] so that Khmer Agricultural Products Can Be Exported to Thai Markets
• The Ministry of Meteorology and Water Resources Forecasts that This Year Cambodia Might Have a Drought

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