In a speech marking the delivery of 113 new Chinese fire trucks to locations around Cambodia, Minister of Interior Sar Kheng called on the Kingdom’s firefighters to perform their duty without prejudice or graft.

“They should uphold four mottos,” he said. “Firstly, act quickly; secondly, act effectively; thirdly, act with justice and without discrimination based on race, political alignment or neighbourhood; and fourthly, with transparency . . . avoiding demanding money before putting the fire out. This cannot happen, therefore, please adhere to these four mottos.”

There was a 14.7 per cent year-on-year increase in fires in Cambodia last year, with 35 people killed and nearly 600 homes razed.