The groundbreaking ceremony for five buildings,
four houses for poor Cambodian Muslims and three wells was presided over by H.E. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister
and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, on 22
September 2012 in Tror Paing Leu village, Smoung commune, Traing district,
Takeo province. The construction is funded by the Association for Coordination
of Kuwait Society and Humanitarian Association for Cambodian Development.
Expressing gratitude to the government and
people of Kuwait for their support for
the development in Cambodia and for this donation to human resource
development and poverty alleviation, Dr.
Sok An said that the Cambodian people are grateful for the wise leadership
of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo
Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and his win-win policy,
which resulted in complete peace in the entire nation. Peace plays a very
fundamental role in social and economic development. Religious conflict does
not occur among Cambodians, who always adhere to a culture of peace, friendship
and brotherhood.
The Deputy Prime Minister continued that the
groundbreaking ceremony reflects the spirit of solidarity, friendship and
mutual respect and help without religious discrimination. It also reflects the
freedom of people in the Kingdom to practice any religion.
Cambodia’s Muslim minority has full freedom to
exercise its religious beliefs, including head-covering in public, freedom to
perform prayers anywhere, freedom to hold national and international ceremonies
of reading the Quran and to conduct other Muslim ceremonies. The government also welcomes
Cambodia’s Muslims building physical infrastructure to raise their standard of
living and to facilitate their religious practices and education.
H.E. Dhirar Nasser Al-Tuwaijri, Ambassador of Kuwait
to the Kingdom of Cambodia, who was also present at the ceremony, said that
since 2007 the people of Kuwait, through the Association for Coordination of Kuwait
Society, have donated approximately USD6 million to various projects in
Cambodia.
The Ambassador highly appreciated the Royal
Government of Cambodia, headed by Samdech Techo Hun Sen, for its efforts to
bring peace to the country. In particular, the people enjoy full freedom to
practice any religion.
A representative of the Association for
Coordination of Kuwait Society, Mr. Natmohamad Fuhad, said that in addition to
buildings and houses, the Association has other two projects: donating cows,
new fishing boats and motor-taxis; and giving USD116,800 to support poor
students.
Press and Quick Reaction Unit