Hun Manet calls for national unity to combat online scams and safeguard Cambodia’s reputation

Prime Minister Hun Manet commends Cambodians for showing unity and patriotism in the face of adversity. Khmer Times

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Synopsis: Prime Minister urges all Cambodians to stand up against transnational crime networks, highlighting the crackdown that led to nearly 5,000 arrests in 2025.

The Prime Minister on Tuesday issued a public appeal for national unity and intensified efforts to combat the scourge of online scam networks, calling cyber fraud a serious transnational crime threatening the country’s social security and reputation as well as the stability of the region.

The message came amid the government’s crackdown on modern international crime which has significantly impacted the country’s reputation and even been used by Thailand to justify its invasion. Experts have called for more enforcement to rebuild the Kingdom’s name.

In a statement published on Facebook on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Hun Manet said the recent Thai invasion of Cambodia has revealed a silver lining—the strong patriotism and unity of Cambodians in the face of adversity.

“I have clearly witnessed the strong spirit of unity and national solidarity among Cambodians, as well as the deep pain of our nation and our people,” he wrote. “Yet this pain has ignited sincere patriotism and a firm determination among our people everywhere to build a strong and resilient nation.”

The hardship, Mr Hun Manet stressed, is felt by every Cambodian citizen. However, he highlighted that it is also a good opportunity for the Khmer nation to take advantage of the peak of its unity to work effectively toward the goals prioritised by the country.

“The key for our nation at this moment is to transform these difficulties and the strong determination of all Khmers into a powerful force of national struggle and a sacred national goal—that is, to unite as one to defend our beloved motherland and to strengthen the Khmer nation in accordance with the sacred aspirations of all our people,” the Premier wrote.

“At the same time, we must join together in unity with shared national determination to enhance national potential in all sectors and eliminate all forms of inactivity within our society that weaken the nation.”

Mr Hun Manet added that combatting crimes, particularly technological and online scam-related ones, is among the top priorities of his government. The issue, according to him, has been so serious that it has topped the government’s agenda.

“The decision of the Royal Government in the 7th National Assembly term to designate the fight against crime as a priority on its political agenda is not accidental,” he said. “The continuous implementation of strict and decisive measures against online scam crimes in recent times stands as evidence of the government’s political commitment to combating this transnational crime, which is a shared concern of Cambodia, the region, and the world.”

He expressed his strong wish for everyone—ordinary citizens, government officials, local authorities, and law enforcement—to actively take part, stay committed, and be willing to make sacrifices to join the government and relevant authorities in combatting online scams.

“Therefore, I sincerely wish to see participation, commitment, and national sacrifice from all relevant stakeholders—especially from Cambodian citizens of all backgrounds and beliefs, as well as civil servants, local authorities, and all competent forces—so that we may unite as a great national solidarity force to eradicate all negative issues related to online scam crimes and to elevate the good reputation of the Kingdom of Cambodia on the international stage,” he added.

Mr Hun Manet himself chaired the Commission for Combatting Online Scams (CCOS), a high-level task force established in February last year. The commission has been tasked with implementing measures to prevent, suppress, and crack down on online scams. Operating on a separate financial budget and using the stamps of the Council of Ministers for its official documents and materials, it provides guidance, coordination, and support to enhance the efficiency of relevant ministries, institutions, and law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the commission monitors, inspects, and evaluates the efforts of government bodies in combatting cyber fraud and cooperates with international partners to address transnational online crime.

Since the creation of the special commission, Cambodia has reported successes in its crackdown on online scams syndicates, almost all of which had been run by foreigners.

From June 2025 to now, authorities carried out enforcement operations at 118 suspected crime locations across Cambodia, resulting in the arrest of 4,983 suspects of 23 nationalities, CCOS.

During the same period, authorities deported 4,039 illegal immigrants, prosecuted 35 major cases, and secured convictions against 168 alleged ringleaders.

In the first 10 days of 2026 alone, law enforcement authorities conducted operations at seven locations—six in Phnom Penh and one in Siem Reap—leading to the arrest of 39 foreign suspects, including 32 South Koreans, four Chinese, and three Nepalese nationals. The same period also saw the most notable action taken by the relevant authorities, with the arrest and extradition of Chen Zhi, founder of Prince Group and a ringleader of online scam operations.

The government recently has also issued a sub-decree ordering stricter monitoring over inhabitants, especially the foreign ones, at collective residential areas nationwide, while the Phnom Penh Municipality earlier this week announced its grand plan to “trace and dismantle” online scam operations in all 12 districts of the capital.

Pa Chanroeun, a social analyst and president of the Cambodian Institute for Democracy, heartily welcomed the Prime Minister’s message, stressing that the online frauds and other technological crimes have inflicted substantial damage on Cambodia’s reputation.

“More collective actions need to be taken to fight online scams, or Cambodia may face being blacklisted on the international stage,” he said. “That will severely affect Cambodia’s reputation and at the same time may scare international travellers. We cannot let that happen, considering that the economy depends so much on the tourist sector.”

Chanroeun said that while the Kingdom already has the legislation and judicial capacity and its leaders’ strong commitment to deal with the crimes, success also requires cooperation and sacrifice from the people in real life.

“Raiding and shutting down sites of online operations, though run by foreigners, may also affect a small number of Cambodian people who benefit from providing legal services to the syndicates, such as providing rented space, catering, transporting and so on,” he explained. “I hereby ask them to think long-term and prioritise the national interests.”

Acting selfishly, he stressed, would only lead to bigger damage for the state in the long term.

“Not sharing commitment and lack of cooperation would only lead to more people being scammed, and at this stage, the victims would not only be people outside of Cambodia but also the local Cambodians as well.”

-Khmer Times-