Cambodian MPs to debate long-awaited anti-graft law

via CAAI News Media

2010-03-05 17:03

PHNOM PENH, March 5 (AFP) - Cambodia's parliament announced Friday that lawmakers will start debating a long-awaited anti-corruption law next week, more than 15 years after the legislation was first proposed.

Cambodia is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and the government has repeatedly come under fire from international donors and activists over its apparent unwillingness to tackle rampant graft.

"The National Assembly of the kingdom of Cambodia will hold an extraordinary meeting to debate and approve the draft law on anti-corruption," a parliament statement said.

The statement added that the debate will begin Wednesday.

Legislation to tackle corruption was first proposed for the country in 1994.

Local media reported that copies of the draft law, which was approved by the government in December, were hand-delivered to all lawmakers on Thursday.

Cambodia was ranked 158 out of 180 countries on anti-graft organisation Transparency International's most recent corruption perception index.

Despite the strong concerns over corruption and demands by rights groups that donors get tough on the government's sluggish reform, donors pledged nearly one billion dollars in development aid to Cambodia for 2009.

Last year, a US diplomat said that graft costs the country up to 500 million dollars every year, an allegation the government rejected as "unsubstantiated."