Prime Minister Hun Sen had cancelled a trip to Kampong Cham province today because of his father’s worsening medical condition, the premier’s personal assistant told the Post yesterday.

Seng Tieng, the prime minister’s personal assistant, said that because of a turn in Hun Neang’s health, the premier had cancelled a planned trip to a school opening ceremony in the province and had asked Deputy Prime Minister Sok An to attend in his place.

Seng Tieng said a large number of the premier’s relatives had come to his house near the Independence Monument, where Hun Neang was receiving medical treatment.

Speaking yesterday to graduating students at the Institute of Technology, the prime minister said that his father ­– who is 91 years old ­– was having heart problems and had fainted prior to his arrival.

“I would like to say that before I travelled here, my father [fainted], but I still had to come,” Hun Sen said at the ceremony.

“Before I came, I told my sister to invite a monk to come for blessing.

“I hope that his heart situation will improve, but it is the situation of old people who get into their 90s. If there is any bad news, then I will be informed from my home.”

Hun Neang was admitted to hospital in Singapore late last year for medical treatment, before returning to Cambodia.

Since then, he has not been seen in public.

Hun Neang’s wife, Dy Pok, died in 1998 at the age of 79.