Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol yesterday ordered his officials to keep a close eye on a new $1.3 million project to widen National Road 4 in Preah Sihanouk province in order to halt criticism of shoddy road quality and corruption in his ministry.

His comments came during a ceremony to kick off the road work. Chanthol said officials needed to work harder to ensure the repairs on the national road met road safety standards.

“I and Samdech [Prime Minister Hun Sen] do not want to hear any more criticism on road quality,” he said. “It’s time for us to build our roads with quality and standards.”

Ministry spokesman Vasim Sorya said that under the new project, workers will widen National Road 4 by 0.8 metres along a 3.3-kilometre stretch. A few streets in Sihanoukville will also be repaired, as will a roundabout in the centre of the town.