Hun Neang, the father of Prime Minister Hun Sen, passed away in Phnom Penh at 4:10 this morning, a month shy of his 90th birthday, government officials said.
Neang, whose health had been deteriorating for some time, had not been seen in public since visiting Singapore for medical treatment in 2011.
Um Kemikor, president of the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals, said Neang died in his home.
“Right now, our officials are preparing this funeral at the prime minister’s house in Phnom Penh,” he said.
Seng Tieng, a personal assistant to Hun Sen, told the Post that Neang’s funeral will be held on Wednesday.
Neang, a father of six, was born on August 27, 1923, and met his future wife, Dy Pok, in Kampong Cham’s Stung Trang district in the 1940s.
Pok passed away in 1998 – also an election year – at age 79.
Neang was known for financing the construction of schools, something he was reportedly still doing as recently as last year.
But in the 18 months leading up to Neang’s death, Hun Sen publicly expressed concerns over his father’s health.
In February last year, he cancelled a trip to the provinces because of Neang’s ill health.
“I told my sister to invite a monk to come for blessing,” he told graduating students during a speech at the time. “I hope that his heart condition will improve.”
Last month, Hun Sen said his father’s condition had worsened and he was receiving blood transfusions.
“Now the issue is that his kidney and so on is worsening, so last night we communicated within the family and might need to bring a group of medical doctors from Singapore, because we cannot move him out of the room,” he said.
Neang was awarded the title Oknha Moha Pheakdey Hun Neang in 2011.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SHANE WORRELL
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