THE Council of Ministers has requested that the Ministry of Interior allow five provincial governors – including Prime Minister Hun Sen’s brother Hun Neng, the governor of Kampong Cham – to remain at their posts despite being past the government’s mandatory retirement age.

In a letter released November 26, Chak Leng, a secretary of state at the Council of Ministers, requested that Interior Minister Sar Kheng allow the five senior officials to stay in their posts despite being over 60 years old. The five listed were Hun Neng, Kham Phoeun from Kratie, Kang Heang of Kampong Speu, Chhun Chhorn of Kampong Thom and Loy Sophat of Stung Treng.

In the letter, Chak Leng asked that the five officials be allowed to continue working until the end of the first provincial council mandate in 2014.

Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Council of Ministers, declined to comment on Thursday, saying he had not seen the letter. Chak Leng could not be reached for comment.