IN an expected move, opposition MP Son Chhay was sacked from his job as

president of the Commission on Public Works, Transport, Industry and

Telecommunications.

The SRP, whose three commission members were

forbidden from attending the vote, said Chhay had been sacked because he spoke

up about corruption.

"I expect to lose my position on the standing

committee," Chhay told the Post before the vote. "I am not happy or sad. [For

me] what is most important is the abuse of the agreement, principle of law and

democracy," he said after the vote.

Chhay confirmed that under Cambodia's

constitution there is no law, procedure or rule concerning the removal of a

commission president.

"There is no procedure on how to fire a chairman of

a committee," said Chhay.

The three parties- CPP, Funcinpec and the SRP -

each hold three positions on the commission. In a six-zero vote, Chhay was

removed from his position. The CPP-Funcinpec members said that he was removed

because the commission had not functioned effectively under his

leadership.

Chhay was replaced by Kim San, a Funcinpec party member who

was deputy president. CPP commission member Ho Non became deputy of the

commission

Chhay was the only SRP MP who held the presidency of any of

the NA's nine commissions.