Germany wins volleyball World Cup for disabled

PHNOM PENH, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Germany won the fourth World Cup for Men's Standing Volleyball (WOVD) as they beat Slovakia 3-2 in the final, the Jian Hua Daily reported Sunday.

It went 17-25, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22 and 15-12 in favor of Germany in a match held on Saturday evening at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

Earlier on Saturday, Cambodia beat Poland 3-1, winning the third place in the WOVD.

The competition attracted over 400 disabled volleyball players from six countries, including Cambodia, Canada, Germany, India, Poland and Slovakia.

Read more!

QSR sees positive response to its KFC business in Cambodia

JOHOR BAHARU: QSR Brands Bhd chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim yesterday expressed confidence over the success of the group’s latest overseas venture - two Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets in Phnom Penh, the wealthiest and most populous city in Cambodia.

Work on the new “finger lickin’ good chicken” outlets is in the final stages to meet the year-end opening target, he told newsmen at the launch of Chicky Carnival and Catur Bistari Board Game here.

He expects good response from Cambodians as the outlets will be the first ever fast food chain to enter the country.

Through its 45.9 percent equity stake in associate company KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd, QSR operates over 470 KFC restaurants in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

“Despite being a new market, we strongly believe in the prospect of this business,” he added.

Muhammad Ali said QSR will open two more outlets in Cambodia, in Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, some time next year.

On the carnival launched yesterday, Muhammad Ali said it is expected to attract participation by more than 20,000 children. The two-day carnival is at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre.

“The carnival is KFC’s first outside Kuala Lumpur. We plan to organise similar carnivals in differnt cities each year,” he added.

Muhammad Ali Hashim, is also chief executive of Johor Corporation Bhd, said the Catur Bistari Board Games is part of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme of both Johor Corp and KFC.

“This is a game based on business practices and we hope to nurture an entrepreneurship culture and interest among students who would chose this as a career in future,” he added.

– BERNAMA
Read more!

Cambodia: Saltus And Groom Share Lead After Two Rounds Of Cambodian Open

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA: America's Bryan Saltus put his new putter to good use Friday (30 Nov) as he shot a 5-under 67 to claim a share of the lead after two rounds of the inaugural Cambodian Open.

Saltus joined first-round leader Adam Groom, with the Australian shooting a 68 on Friday in the $300,000 Asian Tour event.

This is the first Cambodian Open, played on one of just three golf courses in the Southeast Asian nation. It is being played in Siem Reap, the nearest town to the nation's prime tourist attraction, the temple of Angkor Wat.

Groom and Saltus were three strokes in front of their nearest pursuers: America's Anthony Kang, England's Ben St John and Scotland's Simon Dunn in third.

Californian Saltus adopted a new putter for this tournament, and fired off four birdies in the first four holes Friday.

"This new putter is great," Saltus said. " I shot five birdies on the back nine on this course but someone could even shoot a nine-under. The greens are in good shape but the wind could make it difficult over the weekend."

Groom was benefitting from a more laid-back approach upon the advice of his father.

"He told me that I shoot better when Im relaxed on course so I listened to him and the results are showing this week," Groom said.

"I will continue to have a calm approach over the weekend and look forward to a good finish."

Thailand's Chapchai Nirat shot a 71 on Friday to be equal 10th, six strokes off the leaders, as he continues his pursuit of Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Liang Wen-chong.

"Ive been playing back-to-back events and its taking a toll on my game this week," Chapchai said. "I am not driving it well and my putting is not very steady."

The cut was made at 2-over 146. (AP)

Read more!

Cambodia urges Myanmar to continue Suu Kyi talks

PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen on Friday urged Myanmar's junta leaders to continue fledgling talks with detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a government spokesman said.

Hun Sen met with Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein in Phnom Penh and told him that dialogue with Aung San Suu Kyi should continue "for the sake of both sides," according to spokesman Khieu Kanharith.

"Prime Minister Hun Sen supports meetings between the Myanmar government and Aung San Suu Kyi and encourages (the ruling generals) to have more meetings for the sake of both sides," he told reporters.

Aung San Suu Kyi held a third meeting in Yangon on November 19 with Myanmar Labour Minister Aung Kyi, who has been appointed by the junta to handle contacts with the 62-year-old Nobel peace prize winner.

Aung Kyi was appointed as a liaison in the wake of global outrage against the regime following its bloody crackdown on peaceful protests in September. At least 15 people were killed and 3,000 arrested in the suppression.

The September violence led the United States and Europe to tighten sanctions against Myanmar, which was already under economic restrictions due to the junta's human rights abuses and the detention of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The pro-democracy icon has been under house arrest for 12 of the last 18 years.

But Cambodia rejected the sanctions on Myanmar, saying such measures were only hurting its people.

"Economic sanctions will never hurt government leaders. They only hurt people," Khieu Kanharith told reporters following the meeting between Hun Sen and Thein Sein, the number four in Myanmar's military.

Thein Sein's three-day official visit, which began Friday, overlaps with that of UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari, who is in Cambodia as part of a regional trip to assess the positions of Myanmar's neighbours after the junta's crackdown.

But Thein Sein and Gambari, the UN secretary general's special representative to Myanmar, did not meet Friday, Khieu Kanharith said.

Cambodia maintains close diplomatic ties with Myanmar, which has been under military rule since 1962 and is one of the most isolated nations in the world.

Hun Sen last visited there in May for trade and tourism talks.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said Thursday sanctions against Myanmar's ruling generals would not force the country towards democracy, following his talks with Gambari.

Hor Namhong said that the international community should instead offer more aid to the impoverished nation.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which Cambodia is a member, has come under increasing pressure to deal with its most unruly member since the unrest broke out two months ago.

Read more!

Australia`s Southern Gold starts drilling in Cambodia

The Cambodian government had been trying to lift Cambodia from poverty by creating several kinds of developing plans and projects. But because the corruption law didn't exist, all high ranking government officials are the high ranking criminals. The ways that the government is dealing with foreign firms are secretly kept from public and no detail about how revenue will be managed to the government for the benefit the poor. Mostly the negotiations were shaking hand and under the table deals. Do cambodia know how to dig gold for itself or needs foreigner to steal their gold?

Phnom Penh (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) - Australian mining firm Southern Gold Ltd (ASX:SAU) has begun drilling for gold in Cambodia's northeastern province Kratie, said a company press release received here today.

The firm has started its first drilling campaign in Cambodia at its 80-percent-owned Snoul Prospect, after completing a study at the site launched in 2006, said the release.

The company plans to drill eight 80 to 150-meter deep holes at the site over an area of 1,200 meters, and if the results are good, it will drill more. Assay results are
expected in early 2008.
Read more!

Cambodia faces immediate threats from climate change

Cambodia faces immediate threats to its agricultural production and food security from climate change in rainfall, temperatures and availability of water, said the UNDP Human Development Report (HDR) 2007 released on Thursday.

For most Cambodians live in rural areas and are reliant on agriculture, long-term risks associated with climate change include water insecurity, increased sea level, cyclones and disruption or collapse of Cambodia's critical ecosystems, said the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in the report.

Climate change may increase occurrence of drought and flood while increasing the vulnerability of Cambodia's poor people to their effects, it said.

Increase of disease with climate change may have an adverse impact on people's health, particularly the most vulnerable poor, it said.

However, it said, climate change presents Cambodia many opportunities.

For example, it said, Cambodia can seek technical assistance and financial resources to promote climate change mitigation and adaptation, and mobilize private sector partnerships to transfer appropriate technologies to promote renewable energy in order to support the development of other sectors such as health, education, and transport.

With 0.2 percent of world's population, Cambodia accounts for a negligible percentage of global emissions, it said.

The country has signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol and as a developing country, Cambodia has no obligation to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but can contribute to emission reduction on a voluntary basis, including through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), it said.

Cambodia ranks 131 out of 177 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) with its HDI value moving up from 0.543 to0.598 in the last five years, according to the report.

Source:Xinhua Read more!

Cambodia launches its first international golf tournament near famed Angkor temples

SIEM REAP, Cambodia: Asia launched its newest international golf tournament amid centuries-old Angkor temples when the Cambodian Open teed off Thursday.

Prime Minister Hun Sen teed off the first ball of the inaugural US$300,000 (€203,430) tournament at the recently opened Phokeethra Country Club in Siem Reap province, Cambodia's main tourist hub.

Siem Reap is the nearest town to Cambodia's most popular tourist attraction, the vast network of ancient temples including Angkor Wat — as well as one of just three golf courses in the southeast Asian nation.

"The launch of this event symbolizes the growing emergence of professional golf in new golfing countries like Cambodia and it augurs for the game in Asia," Kyi Hla Han, Asian Tour executive chairman, said in a statement.

Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant, a former Asian number one and holder of a record nine victories in the region, is among the golfers competing at the tournament.

Other players include Chapchai Nirat, also from Thailand, and Scotland's Simon Yates, both ranked in the top-10 of the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

There are 150 professional golfers from 25 countries taking part, said Hun Sen, who described the tournament as a historic event in his opening speech.

Touted as the only international-standard course in Cambodia, Phokeethra is the result of a campaign by the Cambodia government to boost its tourist revenues. The 18-hole, 72-par course is 23 kilometers (14 miles) outside Siem Reap town.

Cambodia's other two golf courses are located near the capital Phnom Penh, with a fourth under construction in Siem Reap.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for cash-strapped Cambodia. There were 1.7 million foreign arrivals last year, and more than half of the tourists visited the Angkor temples. Read more!

U.S. NGO trains female politicians from main parties in Cambodia

The U.S.-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) here on Wednesday started to train 30 women from Cambodia's main political parties to help them participate in the July 2008 national election.

Stephanie Lynn, NDI's resident program director for Indonesia, oversees the training of 10 female members each from the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the co-ruling Funcinpec Party and the opposition Sam Rainsy Party (SRP), said a press release from the non-governmental organization.

The three-day training course aims to help the female candidates of the contending political parties improve their candidacy and campaigning skills, it said.

After receiving the training course, the trainees will then train their own party's female members.

In the 2007 commune council election, 21 percent of all candidates and nearly 15 percent of the elected councilors were women, an increase of 9 percent from the 2003 national election.

Funcinpec has recently appointed Princess Norodom Arunrasmy as its premiership candidate for the upcoming election, unprecedentedin Cambodia's political history.

Source: Xinhua Read more!

Cambodia beefs up maritime security against terrorists, cross-border criminals

Cambodia has strengthened its maritime security to fight against terrorism, transnational crimes and improve its sea environment protection, said Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday.

"I used to be very concerned that my country can become a safe shelter for terrorists in maritime areas because we lacked the materials and techniques to safeguard the territory. Now, we have cooperation with our friends and partners to combat all those terrorists and cross-border criminals and improve our sea environment protection," he told the Cambodia Maritime Security Seminar held in Phnom Penh city with the attendance of some 100 participants from Australia and Cambodia.

Cambodia is no more a safe place for terrorists, he added.

Meanwhile, he said, the increase of military ships and the augmentation of Cambodia's maritime security are not a threat for the neighboring countries.

The maritime security is improved to fight against drug trafficking, human trafficking, terrorism acts, cross-border crimes, pirates, oil leaking and ship accidents and to protect sea transportation, he said.

"Cambodia opens its hands to cooperate with all sides to share experiences and techniques in the field of maritime security," he added.

For example, he said, the United States' amphibious assault ship USS Essex is currently docked at Sihnaoukville to cooperate with Cambodian side in humanitarian affairs for the Cambodian people.

"We also welcome warships from France, Australia, Japan and other countries to come," he added.

The USS Essex arrived in Sihanoukville on Monday to carry out medical, military and civic engineering missions in several provinces.

Southwestern port city Sihanoukville faces the Thailand Gulf, where the kingdom has a huge interest of marine products and a profitable prediction of oil and natural gas reserves.

Source:Xinhua Read more!

Myanmar PM, UN envoy to visit Cambodia

YANGON, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Prime Minister General Thein Sein and the United Nations special envoy to Myanmar Ibrahim Gambari will separately pay their visits to Cambodia this week, said local media on Wednesday.

It will be the new Myanmar prime minister's introductory trip to another member country of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) following those to Laos and Vietnam earlier this month.

Thein Sein, appointed as new prime minister on Oct. 24, will meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, after he arrives in Phnom Penh on Friday, said English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodian Daily.

Ibrahim Gambari will arrive on Thursday to meet government officials to discuss the situation in Myanmar, it quoted a statement from the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation as saying.

So far, there has been no official schedule for Ibrahim Gambari to meet with Thein Sein in Cambodia.

The envoy will leave on Friday and the prime minister on Sunday.
Read more!

Lowell inmate sues over Cambodia deportation

By Lisa Redmon

BOSTON -- A 22-year-old Lowell man has filed a federal lawsuit claiming he was ordered deported to his native Cambodia six months ago, but is still behind bars at the Suffolk County House of Correction.

Samoeun Phroeun, formerly of 38 Grace St., Lowell, was convicted in Jan. 4, 2004, of larceny and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail. He had returned home when officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) knocked on his door on Nov. 28, 2006, and took him into custody to be deported.

Phroeun claims in his lawsuit that he is being unlawfully detained because his country does not have a repatriation agreement with the United States, according to court documents.

Phroeun argues that "an alien" who has been detained beyond six months should be released when the government is unable to present documented confirmation that the foreign government will accept that person.

No one from ICE was available for comment.

Read more!

Hornets kill Cambodia mother, 2 children

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—A woman and her two young children died after they were stung by a swarm of hornets whose nest they had disturbed while cutting firewood, a police chief said Tuesday.

The woman, her 1-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son died Monday shortly after they were attacked by hornets in a forest near their village in Siem Reap province, said a local police chief, Eng Kea.

Loy Sophea, 24, had taken her children into the forest while she cut firewood for cooking, he said. She accidentally disturbed the hornets' nest, triggering the attack, the police officer said.

The woman used her body to cover her children, but all three were repeatedly stung by the hornets, he said.

Villagers took them to a hospital, but the boy died en route, the officer said, adding that the mother and daughter died after reaching the hospital.

Siem Reap province is about 145 miles northwest of the capital, Phnom Penh.



Read more!

31st MEU, USS Essex Marines, Sailors arrive in Cambodia to foster relations

By Cpl. Kamran Sadaghiani, 31st MEU

SIHANOUKVILLE, Kingdom of Cambodia (Nov. 26, 2007) -- Marines and Sailors from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, Command Amphibious Squadron 11 and the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) arrived here, Nov. 26 for a scheduled port visit.

More than 2,500 servicemembers are scheduled to provide medical and dental treatment to rural Cambodians, participate in engineering civic action projects, professional military exchanges, youth activities, and distribute hundreds of donated items, such as books, toys, clothes and medicals supplies across Cambodia to foster goodwill.

“Over the course of the next week, Marines and Sailors coming from the Essex will conduct two medical and dental clinics, build two bridges and participate in six community relations projects,” said Col. John Mayer, the 31st MEU commanding officer. “We will also (teach at) the National Defense University to help students with English and to understand our military forces.”

The MEU, Essex and CPR-11 have been granted a budget of more than 26,000 dollars for construction materials, 10,000 dollars for medical supplies and 2,000 dollars for community relation event donations, such as books, sporting equipment and school supplies, according to Maj. Eric Malinowki, the MEU logistics officer, and a native of Portsmouth, N.H.

During a visit to the Essex, Royal Government of Cambodia distinguished guests and U.S. military leaders spoke of the new beginnings this visit makes possible.

Piper Campbell, the Kingdom of Cambodia U.S. Embassy deputy chief of mission, explained this visit represents the continued friendship between the two nations and military services.

“I am honored to welcome the USS Essex and the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to Sihanoukville,” said Campbell. “As you may know, this visit represents only the second time a U.S. Naval vessel has visit. These visits are a dramatic representation of the strengthening and broadening of the relationship between the United States and Cambodia. The visit of the USS Essex will build on these partnerships and help to deepen our ties.

“An important aspect of this visit is that thousands of Cambodians will have the opportunity to personally interact with some of America’s finest ambassadors,” added Campbell. "I can think of no finer symbol of the friendship between Americans and Cambodians than these people-to-people projects.

“I would like to thank his Excellency, the governor of Sihanoukville, and the entire Royal Government of Cambodia for all of their support in making this historic visit successful," Campbell continued.

Mayer expressed his gratitude for this opportunity to visit the Kingdom of Cambodia.

“On behalf of all the Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, I would like to thank each and every one of you for having our Marines and Sailors visit the Kingdom of Cambodia,” said Mayer, to members of the Royal Government of Cambodia, during a visit to the Essex. “All the Marines and Sailors from the MEU are excited and absolutely see this as an opportunity to meet the people of Cambodia and see this historical land.”

The visit is part of the Cambodia Theater Security Cooperation, which is intended to build on the relationship between the U.S. and Cambodian governments and develop interoperability between U.S. forces and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.

Read more!

Singapore working with Cambodia to fly bodies of five Singaporeans home

SINGAPORE : Singapore officials in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, are working with family members and the Cambodian authorities on the repatriation of the bodies of the five men who died in a dragon boat accident at the Tonle Sap River on Friday.

At this point, it is still not clear when the bodies will be brought home.

Channel NewsAsia understands that the authorities are exploring the possibility of transporting the bodies home through non—commercial flights.

Some family members of the five men have said they want to go to the site of the accident to perform some rites or offer prayers before they head home.

The bodies of the five men were found on Sunday morning, two days after their dragon boat capsized in the annual Cambodia—ASEAN Traditional Boat Race.

The body of Chee Wei Cheng was found first at about 7.50 on Sunday morning, followed by that of Jeremy Goh near to the accident area.

The bodies of Stephen Loh, Poh Boon San and Reuben Kee were washed further downstream a few kilometres away, and were found near a small island off the Tonle Sap River, in the late morning the same day.

All were found by Cambodians.

Meanwhile, the family members were visibly distressed and distraught when they came to identify the bodies of the five men at the mortuary of Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh.

Parents and siblings of the men broke down several times especially after they had to identify their loved ones.

One mother did not want to see her son’s body, so she wouldn’t have to remember him that way.

Counsellors from Singapore were on hand to help them overcome their grief and come to grips with the grim reality.

The families of the dead men all said they were very passionate and avid sportsmen.

Rower Stephen Loh’s father, 64—year—old Victor Loh, said his son even gave up an engineering career to pursue his love for sports.

Stephen, the second in the family of three boys, was a Physical Education teacher at National Junior College.

The elder Mr Loh said his son had plans to take up sports science, describing his son as "very focussed."

The brother of Jeremy Goh, who did not want to be named, said his brother enjoyed the team spirit that dragon boating offered.

He also described his brother as a very caring and good brother.

The rest of the team’s 17 rowers are expected to leave Cambodia for Singapore on Monday morning. — CNA/de

Read more!

Thailand gears up for a high-quality SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima

By Edward Thangarajah

SEA Games marketing chairman Santiparb Techanavanija believes the biennial celebration to be held December 6-15 in Nakhon Ratchasima will be the "best ever".

He said the fact that it is being held only for the second time in the provinces and during the auspicious year of His Majesty's 80th birthday means it has drawn striking attention from the kingdom and elsewhere.

He also said because the Games are a forerunner for next year's Beijing Olympic Games that a high standard of competition and performances should be expected.

Santiparb claims that he has already raised US$15m for the event and could have added more to the kitty had the organisers allowed him to sell television rights to the participating nations.

"I was told that all participants must be allowed to televise free of charge," he said.

"In fact I had signed Vietnam, but had to cancel the arrangement and refund their deposit."

Santiparb began his association with the SEA Games and Asian Games as a table tennis referee and served as secretary-general of the Table Tennis Association of Thailand.

He was one of those who helped build the road to friendship with China, during the time of "Ping Pong" diplomacy in the late 1960s. He has been associated with the SEA Games since 1961 and the Asian Games since its fifth celebration in 1966, which was the first of five Asiads which Thailand has hosted.

Since then he has been associated with nine Asian Games. In addition to helping with the organisation of the celebrations, he was solely responsible for raising the funds for the Games.

"The enthusiasm, support and the keenness of the people and athletes has opened the doors for Thailand to witness one of the best, if not the best Games held in Southeast Asia," said Santiparb.

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam will take part.

Thailand has established many firsts in the Games. Besides launching the inaugural celebration, which was known as the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games in 1959. Six countries - Burma, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand - participated in 12 sports with 527 athletes in the first Games.

Thailand also enlisted Brunei, Indonesia and the Philippines as members. The name was changed to SEA (Southeast Asian) Games in 1977.

The 18th edition of the biennial celebration in Chiang Mai in 1995 was the first to be held outside the capital of a hosting nation.

It was also the first time that all SEA Games members took part.

Perhaps, the most moving scene this scribe witnessed was the presence of the doyen of Asian sports, the late Air Chief Marshal Dawee Chullasapya, weak and hardly able to walk, discarded medical advise and was seated in a corner of the Chiang Mai Stadium, witnessing the track and field action.

He sat, clinging on to his walking stick congratulating the athletes.

ACM Dawee was one of those who helped elevate the SEA Games to a meaningful celebration for athletes in this part of the world.

This year, East Timor will be the youngest participant in the biennial celebration. According to Santiparp, 12,000 athletes will be part of this year's Games.

Chiang Mai made its mark in many ways and unfolded several exciting moments.

One fresh in my mind was the men's shot put event. It is normally, a dreary, long drawn out event, with muscular men trying to out-throw an iron-ball but we witnessed a memorable event in Chiang Mai.

The eyes of some 15,000 spectators were focused on the competition arena. That's because they were able to witness a titanic battle between two gladiators, Malaysia's Rahim Mohd Nazar Abdul and Thailand's Jittakorn Krasaeyan.

Rahim set the pace with a record-breaking opening throw of 16.31 metres, a mark which no one was able to beat. In fact he beat the 16-metre mark twice and held the lead, ready to capture the gold. Jittakorn had only one throw over 16 metres and that fell far behind Rahim's first effort.

Then came the sixth and final round and there was pin-drop silence in the stadium. Jittakorn took his stance and then hurled the iron-ball over 16.37 metres.

Yes, he beat Rahim's record-breaking mark.

Rahim entered the throwing circle, took his time and did try hard to beat Jittakorn, but only managed 16.20 metres, and it was Thailand's Jittakorn who not only garnered the gold, but also earned a SEA Games record.

ACM Dawee, like everyone, was so thrilled that he overlooked his feeble health and walked into the stadium to congratulate Jittakorn.

Perhaps Korat will unfold many more memorable, exciting scenes and big crowds will be there to witness the action.

I am also told that all countries will come this year with well trained teams, as they want to stake a claim to go to Beijing for next year's Olympic Games.

According to national track and field coach Supanas Ariyamongkol, one of the strongest challengers for Thailand will be Vietnam who have done hours of training, both at home and elsewhere.

Their women, particularly Vu Thi Huang who won the sprint double in Manila, clocking 11.61 seconds for the 100 and 23.77 for the 200, will go all out to complete the double again.
Read more!

Australia's PM-elect Rudd vows better global ties

Reuters

BRISBANE - Australia's incoming Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a Mandarin-speaking former diplomat, has pledged closer ties with key friends and allies after sweeping away 11 years of conservative rule under John Howard.

Rudd, 50, presented himself as a new generation leader by promising to pull around 500 frontline Australian troops out of Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, further isolating Washington on both issues.

"To our friends and allies around the world, I look forward as the next Prime Minister of Australia to working with them in dealing with the great challenges which our world now faces," he told cheering supporters at a victory party late on Saturday.

"We extend our greetings tonight to our great friend and ally the United States, to our great friends and partners across Asia and the Pacific, and to our great friends and partners in Europe and beyond."

The surge to Labor left Howard battling to win even his own parliamentary seat, which he has held since 1974, putting him in danger of becoming the first prime minister since 1929 to lose his constituency.

"King Kevin the new conqueror," said the Sun-Herald newspaper in Howard's home town of Sydney on Sunday. "It's Labor in a Ruddslide", said the Australian national newspaper.

At least four and possibly six government ministers, including Howard, looked likely to be ejected after a swing of more than six percent across the nation, bringing only the sixth change of government since World War Two.

Election analyst Antony Green predicted Labor would win up to 86 seats in the 150-seat parliament, giving it a majority for the first time since it lost power to Howard in 1996.

Rudd is expected to forge closer ties with China and other Asian nations and has said he wants a more independent voice in foreign policy, with past Labor governments more supportive of an energetic United Nations and global organizations.

Rudd promised to sign the Kyoto climate pact immediately and lead his country to next month's UN climate summit in Bali, expected to kick-start talks on a post-Kyoto deal to slash greenhouse gas emissions globally.

But Labor could be frustrated by a hostile Senate (upper

house), where the conservatives will have sway until July next year, possibly frustrating Rudd's Kyoto plan and promise to dump unpopular government labor laws which propelled his victory.

Centre-left Labor will have to negotiate with diverse minor Senate parties including the left-leaning Australian Greens and the conservative, Christian values Family First party.

In a message of unity, Rudd promised to govern for all Australians, including migrants and the poor.

"Today the Australian people have decided that we as a nation will move forward," Rudd, flanked by his wife Therese and family, told around 1,000 wildly cheering home supporters at a football stadium in the tropical northern city of Brisbane.

The election was fought mainly on domestic issues, with Labor cashing in on anger at labor laws and rising interest rates which put home owners under financial pressure at a time when Australia's economy is booming.

"Like Howard, he will quickly attempt to secure his administration with the fortress of institutional and cultural change. In short, Australia will shift to the left," said the Bulletin news magazine.

"Rudd will have to open negotiations soon with the United States about the withdrawal of Australia's combat troops from Iraq. This is a delicate operation because it will be Labor's first testing of the alliance," veteran political commentator Michelle Grattan wrote in the Sun-Herald.

President George W. Bush congratulated Rudd on his election victory, and praised Howard's leadership.

"The United States and Australia have long been strong partners and allies and the president looks forward to working with this new government to continue our historic relationship," the White House said in a statement.

Howard, who had won four consecutive elections and held power for 11 years, conceded his government had lost power in front of a crowd of supporters in Sydney late on Saturday, saying he took full personal responsibility for the defeat.

"This is a great democracy and I want to wish Mr Rudd well," Howard said. "We bequeath to him a nation that is stronger and prouder and more prosperous than it was 11-1/2 years ago."

The result puts Labor in power nationally and in all of Australia's six states and two territories, with the lord mayor of the northern city of Brisbane now the senior ranking elected official in Howard's Liberal Party.

Howard, who on Sunday went for his regular morning walk in the wake of defeat, had won four consecutive elections and was Australia's second-longest serving prime minister behind Liberal Party founder Sir Robert Menzies.
Read more!

Cambodia seeks $3bn investments in power plants

ANUCHIT NGUYEN

Cambodia is seeking $3 billion of investments to build power plants in the next decade to meet rising energy demand in Southeast Asia's fastest-growing economy, Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said.

The nation plans to boost generating capacity by 2,000 megawatts from 300 megawatts by 2017, Cham Prasidh said in an interview in the capital Phnom Penh.

The government is in talks with Chinese and Vietnamese investors to build hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1,100 megawatts, he said, without naming the companies.

Cambodia's economy has expanded at an average annual pace of about 11% in the four years ending 2007, according to the Asian Development Bank, spurring demand for energy. The nation, which emerged from a two-decade civil war in 1993, is wooing overseas companies to invest in natural gas exploration and power plants to ease electricity shortages and ensure energy supplies.

The energy shortage "problem must be resolved as soon as possible because it's hard to attract foreign investments with unstable power supply," Cham Prasidh said.

Cambodia's economy, which relies on garment exports and tourism, may grow 9.7% this year, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Nov 7. Companies such as Club Me'diterrane'e SA and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc are planning to build hotels to tap the country's rising tourist arrivals.

Poor Infrastructure "Cambodia has very low labour costs that can even compete with China," said Van Sou Leng, chairman of the Cambodian Garment Manufacturers Association, a trade group. "Investors are cautious to invest here because of poor infrastructure such as electricity, roads and ports."

Exports in 2006 rose 24% to $3.45 billion, according to Cambodia's central bank. Garments accounted for 70% of total overseas shipments, with the US and European Union the nation's biggest markets.

Foreign tourists to Cambodia may reach a record two million in 2007, Hun Sen said. Overseas tourists rose 19% to 1.4 million in the first nine months of this year, he said.

"Most large hotels in Cambodia have their own power generator because the power blackout situation has worsened," said Cham Prasidh.

The country currently buys electricity from Vietnam and Thailand.

The government is in discussions with Chinese investors to build two hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 700 megawatts in the northwest province of Pursat, said Cham Prasidh. A group of Vietnamese investors plans to build hydropower plants with capacity of 400 megawatts in the northeast province of Rattankiri province, he said.

Cambodia will also open bids for gas-fired power plants which will use natural gas from its onshore and offshore reserves, Cham Prasidh said, without elaborating.

The economy of Cambodia will be the fastest growing of nine Southeast Asian nations this year, according to the ADB. It also reported the quickest pace in the region in 2006 and 2005.

Read more!

Cambodia to form new national flag carrier with Indonesian firms

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP): The Cambodian government signed a joint venture agreement with two Indonesian companies Friday to form a new national airline to tap the country's growing tourism industry.

The new airline, which has yet to be named, is expected to begin flying in six months, the partners said.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint venture with officials from two Indonesia-based companies, the Rajawali Group and PT Ancora International.

"We will create an airline the country will be proud of,'' he said.

The new airline will be Cambodia's national flag carrier, its first since tough competition and mismanagement forced Royal Air Cambodge to shut down over five years ago. Air travel to and from Cambodia is currently dominated by foreign-owned airlines.

The Indonesian partners' businesses include cigarettes, cement, telecommunications, hotels, resorts, extractive minerals and airlines, a joint statement said.

The government will hold a 51 percent share in the new venture and its partners 49 percent, it said.

But since the two foreign firms are responsible for providing the capital for creating the new airline, they are entitled to total 70 percent of potential profit while the remaining 30 percent will go to the government, the statement added.

Peter Sondakh, chairman and CEO of Rajawali Group, declined to discuss other financial details of the new airline when asked by reporters.

But he said it will operate with "better aircraft and better service'' to compete with foreign airlines.

"We envisage more and more travelers coming to Cambodia, and the new national carrier will become indispensable for the tourism market,'' said Vichit Ith, managing director of PT Ancora International.

Cambodia received 1.4 million visitors between January and September this year, up nearly 19 percent from the same period of 2006, according to statistics of the Tourism Ministry, which has also forecast that total tourist arrivals this year will exceed last year's 1.7 million.

Read more!

5 Singaporeans missing after festival boat capsizes in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Five Singaporeans were missing after the boat they used to compete in a traditional Cambodian festival capsized Friday, officials said.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, who is also the chief Cambodian government spokesman, said the boat hit a swirling current in the Tonle Sap river.

He said the boat had just finished the race and was towed to a peer in the river, which flows through the capital, Phnom Penh.

A search for the missing was hampered by darkness, he said.

Mom Sitha, a municipal immigration police officer, said there were 23 Singaporeans on the boat when it capsized and 18 were rescued.

"At the peer, they asked the tow boat to untie the rope to let them go on rowing for leisure. They hit a swirling spot, and the boat capsized," said Chea Sokhom, a member of the festival organizing committee.

He said some of the Singaporeans were not wearing life jackets.

Nearby police boats managed to rescue most of the Singaporeans, he added.

Singapore Embassy officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

The Singaporean team was among eight teams from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that took part in the event, he said. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
Read more!

23-11-2007: Muhibbah rides on Cambodia’s tourism boom

ALL of Muhibbah Engineering’s (RM3.48) divisions — construction, cranes, shipyards and the Cambodian airports — are enjoying strong double-digit growth rates and a favourable operating outlook, as we have noted in our previous update. Its success in clinching new contracts is testament to its reputation, competence and competitive advantage.

Today, we take a look at its Cambodian operations, which are enjoying robust growth as the country undergoes a major tourism boom. Growth will be further anchored by expansion plans in the Siem Reap airport and the opening of a third airport in Sihanoukville in mid-2008. We will take a closer look at its other divisions next week.

Robust growth at airports
Muhibbah’s Cambodian airport operations are held by 30%-owned Societe Concessionaire des Aeroports (SCA). The remaining 70% is held by French construction conglomerate Vinci.

SCA was awarded the concession for the international airport in Phnom Penh in 1995 and Siem Reap in 2001. Both concessions were originally scheduled to end in 2020, but have since been extended to 2040 following the award in 2006 of a third international airport, in Sihanoukville.

The airport operations are enjoying robust growth, reflecting the increasing popularity of Cambodia as a tourist attraction with new direct flights, low-cost flights, and the increasing popularity of the world-famous Angkor Wat temples, a Unesco World Heritage site.

For the first six months of 2007, international passenger arrivals at the two airports rose a hefty 36% year-on-year (y-o-y) from 1.25 million in 1H2006 to 1.69 million passengers in 1H2007. This was propelled by the Siem Reap airport, where international passenger arrivals surged 41% y-o-y from 640,000 to 902,000. Arrivals at the Phnom Penh airport rose 30% from 605,000 to 787,000.

International passenger arrivals rose 26% for the two Cambodian airports last year. Arrivals in 2006 totalled 2.683 million, compared with 2.121 million in 2005. In 2006, international passenger arrivals at the Siem Reap airport surged 31% to 1.36 million, while Phnom Penh airport arrivals rose 22% to 1.323 million.

The Siem Reap airport is shaping up to be among the world’s fastest growing airports — albeit from a low base. In 2006, its passenger arrival growth of 31% eclipsed that of global passenger growth of 4.9% and an average 9.7% growth for passenger arrivals at other Asian airports.

Airport expansion plans
To cope with rising passenger traffic, there are plans to expand the Siem Reap airport — whose new international terminal was opened just in August 2006. The terminal was built to handle up to two million passengers per year, but passenger arrivals are expected to top that level by next year.

Expansion plans will cost fairly little as the airport terminal is essentially arranged in resort-style single-storey modular structures centred around courtyards. Additional modular structures can be added to the existing ones at very low costs and without disrupting the existing structures or operations.

Meanwhile, the Sihanoukville International Airport, its third airport concession, is expected to open in mid-2008. The old terminal has been kept intact and renovated, while works are ongoing to expand the runway to cater for regional flights. As of mid-2007, US$16 million (RM54 million) has been invested in the airport.

Sihanoukville is Cambodia’s only deep-sea port and a major beach resort town. It houses many of Cambodia’s industries as well as an emerging oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Thailand. With enhanced air transportation links, Sihanoukville will be promoted as a major beach resort and industry base.

Read more!