Budget: SRP MPs are concerned Publish Post

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Monday, March 16, 2009

15 March 2009
By Ky Soklim Cambodge Soir Hebdo Translated from French by Luc Sâr Click here to read the article in French

SRP MPs wrote a letter to the prime minister asking him for answers regarding the drop in budget revenue.

The 2009 budget, which was adopted at the end of last year, will no longer be met. This essentially sums up the letter dated 13 March and signed by four opposition MPs. In this letter, the SRP MPs explained that the budget planned for this year – which amounts to $1.7 billion, i.e. 28% increase as compared to 2008 – cannot be met. They explained that during the first two months of 2009, customs fees revenue saw a sharp drop, i.e. this revenue amounted to $64 million, as compared to $86 million for the same period in 2008. The opposition MPs are concerned that, should this revenue drop trend persists, the objective of collecting $585 million in revenue will not be met. They asked Hun Sen to reveal his measures to counter this drop in revenue, and to indicate whether he still believes that the 2009 budget which was approved at the end of 2008, will still remain the same. CPP MP Cheam Yeap, chairman of the NatAss committee for economy and finance, did not wait to give his reply: “Of course, the government has taken all the necessary measures to face this revenue drop.” But, he fails to indicate what these measures are …