AKP Phnom Penh, May 29, 2025 --

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Service H.E. Hun Many affirmed this morning that the ongoing review and analysis of ministerial functions and organisational structures across various ministries and institutions will not impact the benefits of civil servants.

Presiding over a workshop on Review and Analysis of Functions and Organisational Structures of the Ministry of Information, H.E. Hun Many clarified that the initiative aims to enhance inter-ministerial cooperation and improve governance, rather than reduce civil service positions or entitlements.

He noted that the Ministry of Information is the 28th among the 31 ministries and institutions to collaborate with the Ministry of Civil Service on this functional and organisational structure review and analysis initiative. The Ministry of Civil Service, he added, was the first to launch such workshops as part of broader royal government reform efforts.

“This workshop allows us to update ministry leaders and civil servants on the progress of these reviews, while ensuring transparency and participation,” H.E. Hun Many said. “Most importantly, the review does not diminish the rights or benefits of any civil servants.”

Also speaking at the event, H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information, emphasised that public administration reform is a key priority of the Royal Government, as outlined in Phase I of the Pentagonal Strategy. He stressed that these reforms aim to build a more capable, intelligent, ethical, and modern public administration system to serve national interests and respond to citizens’ needs—particularly in the lead-up to Cambodia’s 2023 and 2050 development visions.

Between 2024 and 2025, the Ministry of Information underwent several staffing adjustments, including voluntary resignations, removals due to prolonged absences, and transfers of officers still within the original framework. Seven civil servants were formally removed from the ministry’s staff list due to various factors.

Guided by reform principles such as “Strengthening Over Expansion” and “One-System Integration,” the ministry has reorganised itself into a more streamlined and effective public communication body.

“Our goal is to transform the Ministry of Information into the Royal Government’s public relations institution—proactive, efficient, and professional—based on the principles of ‘New, True, Fast, and Comprehensive’ communication,” said H.E. Minister.

He added that the ministry had completed its functional analysis with a focus on clearly defining core and supporting responsibilities. The two main functions identified were: leading and managing the national information sector, and leading and coordinating public affairs across relevant ministries and institutions.
Following the review, the Ministry of Information also drafted a revised sub-decree outlining its operations, restructuring and merging certain departments to better align with its reform agenda as presented in the current (7th) legislative mandate.

The workshop also featured two presentations by senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Service. The first, delivered by H.E. Chhy Vichara, Secretary of State, focused on the methodology and progress of functional reviews across ministries. The second, by H.E. Youk Bunna, Permanent Secretary of State, highlighted inter-ministerial coordination and efforts to implement reforms in governance and administrative strengthening.

By K. Rithy Reak