PM Hun Manet: Online Scams Are a Post-COVID Phenomenon, Cambodia Committed to Protecting Development Gains

PHNOM PENH — Sept. 23, 2026: Prime Minister Hun Manet has described technology-enabled fraud as a new phenomenon that emerged after COVID-19, vowing that Cambodia will not allow the crime to damage its national development efforts.

Speaking at the opening of the International Conference on Combating Online Scams on Wednesday morning, the Prime Minister said the crime runs entirely counter to Cambodia's culture of living and its environment of national construction and development.

He said Cambodia cannot allow the issue to strike at the nation's achievements and honour. To that end, the Royal Government established a special commission led directly by him to intensify operations to clear scam operations, and is moving toward enacting a law on combating technology-enabled fraud.

As a result, he said, Operation "Iron Fist" has broken up and cleared major locations, though he acknowledged that smaller operations remain and must be pursued to the root.

The Prime Minister added that Cambodia is drafting legal documents, modernising mechanisms and strengthening human resource capacity to ensure long-term effectiveness in the fight against online scams — particularly in responding to the rapid changes and complexity of digital technology, which has become a key tool for criminals.

He stressed that global cooperation is the only key to cutting off this globally networked crime, and that sincere, open cooperation on information sharing and lessons learned must be promoted and encouraged. By contrast, he said, using the pretext of suppressing this crime to violate sovereign authority and occupy territory runs counter to international law and the spirit of cooperation.

The conference has three main objectives: deepening understanding of the complex ecosystem of scam networks; strengthening international cooperation, coordination and multilateral partnerships; and promoting the exchange of experience and best practices while building momentum for joint action.

It is expected to adopt an outcome document providing a framework for stronger international cooperation, information sharing, capacity building, prevention, law enforcement, victim protection and coordinated responses to online scams and technology-enabled transnational crime.

Source: Ministry of Information

https://www.information.gov.kh/articles/202553

Reported by The Khmer Today