Phnom penh: The Royal Government has no plans to reduce spending on the education and health sectors to increase the budget for national defence, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet affirmed on Wednesday morning. Speaking at the graduation ceremony and inauguration of a three-storey building at the National Institute of Physical Education and Sports in Phnom Penh, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet rejected recent reports claiming that the Royal Government plans to cut more than US$170 million from the education and health sectors in 2027 to increase defence spending.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Prime Minister stated that the Royal Government has not cut spending on the education and health sectors. While spending on the defence sector will increase, the budget for social affairs, education, and health will not be reduced and will continue to increase through 2029. The Royal Government has sufficient resources to strengthen national defence and national security without reducing funding allocated to other sectors.

He emphasised that the Royal Government led by the Cambodian People's Party has consistently prioritised human resource development in previous terms, at present, and in the future. From 2024 to 2026, the budget allocated to the social affairs, education, and health sectors increased by more than US$2.6 billion, representing an average annual increase of 7 percent. Meanwhile, spending on the defence and security sector rose by more than US$1.1 billion, with an average annual increase of 3.3 percent.