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PHNOM PENH: Cambodia's parliament approved a controversial anti-corruption law on Thursday, more than 15 years after the legislation was first proposed to tackle graft in the country.
Cambodia is consistently ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the government has repeatedly come under fire from foreign donors and activists over its apparent unwillingness to tackle the problem.
All 82 members of parliament who attended the Thursday meeting, most of whom were from Prime Minister Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party, raised their hands to approve the law.
But all lawmakers from the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, who are not satisfied with the graft proposal, walked out of the meeting just hours before the draft law was passed.
Local rights groups and opposition party lawmakers said the draft was flawed and asked parliament to delay the debate, saying the law would be ineffective and offered whistleblowers little protection.
"This law will become a iron net to protect corruption," said opposition lawmaker Yim Sovann.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An rejected the claims, saying it was a "special, sensitive and important law for the country".
Sok An told lawmakers "this law is a new sharp and effective tool... for the government" to combat corruption.
A national anti-corruption council and an anti-corruption unit will be created to oversee investigations, but critics said it was unlikely either body would be effective because both would be controlled by the ruling party.
Public figures face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of accepting bribes, according to the draft law.
The law will take effect after receiving approval from Cambodia's Senate and promulgation from King Norodom Sihamoni, which are both considered formalities.
Cambodia was ranked 158 out of 180 countries on anti-graft organisation Transparency International's most recent corruption perception index.
It was also ranked the second most corrupt Southeast Asian nation after Indonesia in an annual poll by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, seen by AFP on Tuesday.
Last year, a US diplomat said that graft costs Cambodia up to US$500 million every year, an allegation the government rejected as "unsubstantiated."
- AFP/yb
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