SAM Rainsy Party (SRP) officials have appointed Ke Sovannaroth as acting secretary general of the opposition party, almost two months after Eng Chhay Eang resigned from the position.

Ke Sovannaroth, a parliamentarian in Siem Reap province, will fill the position ahead of likely party elections next year.

SRP spokesman and lawmaker Son Chhay said the acting secretary general position was not elected but appointed at the request of party President Sam Rainsy, and then approved at a meeting with the central committee of the party.

"This is just temporary appointment until the position goes up for re-election in the future," he said, adding that party member Hong Sok Huo was also elected as chief of finance at the party.

A welcome change

Ke Sovannaroth told the Post Thursday that she was pleased to have the position of secretary general, a position she said she would take to naturally.

"I think it is normal for me to be a leader, but it will still be challenging to decide on big issues,"  she said.

SRP Deputy Secretary General Mu Sochua welcomed Wednesday's appointment.

"I believe that after reforming, the SRP will be a much better party," she told the Post Thursday, adding that she believed Ke Sovannaroth was highly qualified to be a leader.

"It is good for SRP that its officials volunteer to resign from these positions. Some leaders hold on to their positions for a long time, and it is not good for a country's development."