Cambodia's Parliament passes draft law on public procurement

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's National Assembly on Tuesday adopted a draft law on public procurement, aimed at ensuring that all state's expenses are used appropriately and transparently.
Although all the 26 Members of Parliament (MPs) of the main opposition party and the 3 MPs of the Human Rights Party boycotted the session, 84 MPs who were present in the meeting unanimously passed the draft law.
Cheam Yeap, chairman of the National Assembly's commission of economy, banking, finance and audit, said the law covers all public procurement in Cambodia, except procurement that may affect confidentiality in national defense and public security.
The law on public procurement was compiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it comprises of 14 chapters with 76 articles, he said.
Speaking in the National Assembly's session, the Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, minister of economy and finance, said the law was a new legal tool to ensure that the expenses of national budget and financing budget from development partners would be transparent, accountable, effective and high frugal.
"The law is also to contribute to prevent corruption," he added.