PM: Ignore critics, focus on progress
A Thai-Cambodian household brand renowned for delighting consumers with its “Kitchen of the World” products is set to raise manufacturing standards with GMP and HACCP certification.
PRIME Minister Hun Sen on February 7 said he regards his critics – especially those sceptical of his acceptance of China-donated vaccines – as vicious dogs.
Without naming names, Hun Sen said he would therefore refrain from responding to them and from speaking with any foreign embassies who sought to mediate.
The remarks came in response to questions by journalists during a press conference at Phnom Penh International Airport, where he was on-hand to receive the first 600,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine donated by China.
The prime minister also instructed his officials to refrain from responding to the critics. He stressed that the instructions mean that the door to negotiations is now closed.
Hun Sen pointed out that what worries him most is the public’s happiness, saying the country’s population of 16 million need him to maintain peace and political stability because social development through economic growth and poverty alleviation must continue.
“A small number of people are not happy. Let [them] be unhappy because in this world there are happy and unhappy people. The important question to ask is, are there more happy people than unhappy ones, or vice versa?
“Cambodia has very few people locked in prisons or running away from their homeland. Those who suffer are troublemakers, so let them suffer,” he said.
The prime minister also urged his followers not to mention those critics’ names on TV or social media and instead speak about his efforts in containing Covid-19, preventing road accidents, reviving the economy, alleviating poverty, carrying out state
reforms and combating corruption in society.
“But [critics] have to understand this clearly – once [I] stop talking, let alone responding, even if an embassy representative comes to speak with me about them, I won’t reply, I won’t speak with them.
“Some might suggest that foreigners step in to mediate, but let me make it clear that I don’t have a reason to speak with [foreigners] on Cambodian matters,” he said.
At the conclusion of the press conference, Hun Sen stated: “My mother once told me that if they insult us, we can sleep soundly at night. But if we insult them, we won’t ever get a good night’s sleep. That is the truth.
“I used to talk back [to my critics] but it never did me any good. Now my strategy is to refuse to engage with them and not talking back – in this case – it says a whole lot.
“Please stay tuned for further drama. Don’t be ashamed. We’ve repeatedly exchanged insults in the past, but now let them insult us without us giving any reply. So, various foreigners will have to figure out that because they have insulted us too much, we’ve stopped speaking to them, too. That’s all for that,” he said.
In a Facebook post on February 5, Sam Rainsy – former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) who faces a slew of outstanding court cases and is living in selfexile abroad – said without elaborating that Hun Sen is waiting until February 31 to be inoculated with the Chinese vaccine.
And in an emailed response to The Post for further comment on February 8, Rainsy said: “[Hun Sen’s] reaction shows his shame for not daring to take the possibly dangerous Chinese vaccine and his fear for the vibrant CNRP which enjoys strong national and international support.”
US-based political analyst James Sok said Hun Sen had used the words “vicious dogs” in likely reference to opposition leaders who are always opposed to the government.
“By saying he would not speak with foreigners who want to discuss political matters relating to the opposition, [Hun Sen] sent a message that there is no use responding to those who would stop at nothing to criticise the government and constantly inflate the situations, from donations for flood victims to the public’s contribution to vaccine purchase and now vaccination against Covid-19,” he said.
Political analyst Lao Mong Hay said that since Hun Sen cannot control Sam Rainsy or his mouth, the prime minister is therefore wise to be indifferent to him and his activities and to let the people judge them both by their actions and accomplishments.
“The way things are in the country – now and for the foreseeable future, it is highly doubtful Sam Rainsy can ever return to contest any election in person. Considering his current stature as a political force to be reckoned with, Sam Rainsy doesn’t need to return in person, though, to do so,” he said.
CP CAMBODIA Co Ltd reached a milestone achievement last Friday when it was awarded the Good Manufacturing Practice
(GMP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification.
CP Cambodia was established in the Kingdom more than 25 years ago by Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited, Thailand’s leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate.
“CP Cambodia is to be commended for overcoming all obstacles in developing a regulated, sustainable and safe food production system as part of its efforts to raise the standard of its products for consumption nationwide.
“GMP and HCCP certification further validates the company’s commitment to deliver quality Thai products manufactured locally to consumers.
“This will not only give Cambodians an affordable way to enjoy popular Thai products, but also develop human capital resources while strengthening Thai-Cambodian relationships at the same time,” Thai Ambassador to Cambodia HE Panyarak Poolthup said as part of his congratulatory speech.
In its vision to become the “Kitchen of the World”, the company is propelled by the philosophy of sustainable business development designed to deliver three pillars of benefits.
These are the benefit of the nation, people and the company itself.
Having obtained recognition for its food safety management systems, CP Cambodia’s diversified businesses – covering a wide range of industries such as animal feed production, animal husbandry, and food and processing production – is set to raise the bar further for quality standards in the Kingdom’s agro-industrial and food industries.
“Receiving both the GMP and HACCP certifications is very important. It shows that the food production systems in Cambodia can reach international standards and that Cambodians are able to access quality and safe food with confidence.
“Quality has and will always be at the heart of our company. It is the principal focus that drives all our production processes, from animal feed production to animal husbandry and finished food products for consumer consumption.
“By advocating quality, adopting and implementing international food safety processes, today we are able to contribute towards promoting the nation as a producer of goods made to the highest standards,” said Thanachit Sriboonlue, the vice-president of CP Cambodia Co Ltd.
GMP and HACCP certifications are awarded for the consistent upholding of health, food safety and sanitation standards.
Two separate food management
systems, they are both designed to guarantee food safety based on the “Recommended International Code of Practice General Principles of Food Hygiene” by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.
“As a certified practitioner of GMP, CP Cambodia has to ensure operational processes are conducted properly – from the handling of raw materials to the finished product.
“At every point of operation – from factory construction to the inflow of human capital and the circulation of air, to the outflow of
sewage – health and food safety guidelines need to be regulated and fulfilled.
“HACCP in contrast, is a system that focuses on the thorough scrutiny of points that could pose a risk to the production line.
“With these two certifications, CP Cambodia has shown it clearly pays the utmost attention to the health and hygiene of its products to ensure quality and safety for consumers.
“I hope that other companies in Cambodia also work towards achieving GMP and HACCP certification and follow the lead set by CP
Cambodia,” said Mao Thira, the director of the regulatory department at the Institute of Cambodia (ISC).
And in an industry where manufacturing practices matter in the bolstering of consumer confidence, GMP and HACCP certification will undoubtedly elevate the company’s products – a belief asserted by food research and development specialist Nov Sinath and retail partner Heng Meng Kheang.
“As an employee of CP Cambodia, I am delighted for the company to have been GMP and HACCP certified.
“We have worked hard and made many changes along the production value chain to ensure the products that we make are of the highest quality and safe to be consumed by Cambodians.
“Having the same international quality standards as other countries will mean that consumers in our country will no longer have to rely on imports from neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Vietnam because Cambodia can also produce safe food,” Sinath said.
Meng Kheang added: “I have been in business with CP Cambodia for six years. The certification will benefit my business tremendously. Apart from telling customers that CP’s products are made to suit Asian tastes, we can now also tell them that the products are safely and hygienically made to quality international standards.”
The benefits of GMP and HACCP does just not end with building consumer confidence and providing sustainability to the company.
Moving forward, the company has pledged to continue to conduct research and produce further food products, including the development of new products to meet the preferences and needs of consumers of all ages.