Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday issued a public apology for the traffic congestion caused by his son’s wedding in central Phnom Penh last week.

Following local media reports last week of heavy traffic build up in the streets around Sar Kheng’s mansion on Norodom Boulevard during the lavish three-day event, the interior minister’s cabinet released a letter to local media, apologising to commuters and residents for the “unintentional disturbance”.

“Sar Kheng deeply and sincerely thanks the public, who wholeheartedly understand his obligation as the parents who have to fulfill their traditional duties,” the letter reads.

Despite Norodom Boulevard being partially fenced off during the event, which ran from January 15 to 17, local authorities were able to manage traffic without completely closing down the major thoroughfare, the letter reads.

According to City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche, local officials have been advised that weddings are not allowed to be set up in streets when it will seriously disrupt traffic.

But street closures were needed when it comes to protecting Cambodia’s elite, he added.

“We have to secure the place since all the leaders joined the wedding,” he said, adding that this was not done at the request of Sar Kheng.

Social researcher Kem Lay, who recently entered the political sphere, yesterday urged City Hall and Cambodia’s upper echelon to apply the rules consistently to everybody.

“[They need to] stop setting a bad example for the public.”