Recruitment Methods Will Slow Reform

The Cambodia Daily

Vannak Huy
Rutgers University, USA
Monday, April 4, 2005

When I read the article “500 Funcinpec Officials to Score Government
Jobs,”(March 31, page 10), many questions and concerns came to my mind.

This way of recruiting officials will discourage thousands of parents who work hard to put their children through school and discourage student from colleges and universities.

The huge entry of these officials in every department and ministry of government will increase bureaucracy, bribery and corruption. It will decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of government, which will affect all of us.

On August 25, 2004, Prime Minister Hun Sen remarked during the national conference on administration reforms that he strongly believed Cambodia has no other better choice than to move forward with all reforms.

Unemployment is a deep concern of the government. However, the
appointment of these officials will strongly affect the administration reform policy and sustainable development in Cambodia.

The government’s vision is to strengthen the public service and provide appropriate salaries to civil servants and implement government decentralization. This is the only way that we can eliminate bureaucracy, corruption, bribery, autocracy and strengthen good governance.

To contribute to the development in Cambodia, together we must show a good example to younger generations. Politicians should not promise voters a job in return for their votes. This short term strategy will affect not only their followers but also the long term development in Cambodia.

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