Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - ‘Illiterate’ chief sees scrutiny after stumbling during swearing in

‘Illiterate’ chief sees scrutiny after stumbling during swearing in

Jarai commune chief, Klan Fes speaks at the inauguration event on Friday in Ratanakkiri province.
Jarai commune chief, Klan Fes speaks at the inauguration event on Friday in Ratanakkiri province. Fresh News

‘Illiterate’ chief sees scrutiny after stumbling during swearing in

An ethnic Jarai opposition commune chief in Ratanakkiri province’s Som Thom commune is facing ridicule online and potential scrutiny from the Interior Ministry after fumbling with the Khmer language during his inauguration ceremony.

Video depicting Klan Fes’s swearing in on July 5 appears to show him struggling to read a Khmer text.

National Election Committee spokesman Khan Keo expressed concern over Fes’s apparent Khmer illiteracy, pointing to a chapter in Article 35 of Cambodia’s Commune Election Law that requires candidates to be able to read and write Khmer. “The candidate registration is determined by the ability to read and write Khmer,” he said.

CNRP Deputy Director Eng Chhay Eang defended the selection of Fes, saying the CNRP selected a Jarai candidate to please the commune’s largely uneducated indigenous population. “[A] bachelor’s [degree] and PhD holder would not be elected as the commune chief,” he said.

Fes insisted he can read and write “a little” Khmer but stumbled out of anxiety over O’Yadav District Governor Ma Vichet’s response to his speech, which came beforehand.

“When I finished [a run-through of] my speech, the district governor said: ‘You want to develop the commune; where will you get the money from?’” said Fes. “At the time, I was so scared.”

Cambodia has struggled to foster Khmer-language literacy among the nation’s ethnic minority groups, and Cambodian Indigenous Youth Association President Ngach Samin said he found mockery of Fes over social media unfair.

“The organisers should have arranged translation and let him have the right to make a commitment about taking control of his village or commune in [the] Jarai language.”

MOST VIEWED

  • Ministry orders all schools, public and private, to close for SEA Games

    From April 20 to May 18, all public and private educational institutions will be closed to maintain order and support Cambodia's hosting of the 32nd SEA Games and 12th ASEAN Para Games, said a directive from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Cambodia will host the

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to

  • Angkor Beer strengthens national pride with golden new look and fresher taste

    Angkor Beer – the "Gold of Angkor" – has a new look, one that is more stylish and carries a premium appeal, as well as a fresher taste and smoother flavour, making it the perfect choice for any gathering. Angkor Beer recently launched its new design, one

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Khmer ballet documentary debuts April 1

    A new documentary, The Perfect Motion, or Tep Hattha in Khmer, will premiere to the public on April 1. The documentary film follows two intertwined storylines: the creation of a show called Metamorphosis by the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi (her very last production) and the

  • Water supply authority assures public shortages over early ‘24

    The Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) asked for understanding from Phnom Penh residents in some communes where water pressure is weak. They assured residents that all supply issues will be resolved by early 2024, but have suggested that residents use water sparingly in the meantime.