P RINCE Sisowath Chivan Monirak resigned as chairman of Royal Air Cambodge in a

shock move on April 28.

A company spokesman said: "His Royal Highness

left the company today" when asked for comment, and referred all inquiries to

the vice-chairman Pan Chanta, who Prince Sisowath - in his last formal decision

- appointed as acting chairman of the national carrier.

Prince Sisowath,

when contacted for comment by the Post, said: "I hope you understand that I

prefer not to comment on what is going on." The Prince also asked that all

questions be put to Pan Chanta.

"To tell you the truth I really don't

know, this is (the Prince's) own personal matter," Chanta said. "I don't know

much about it."

Chanta said Prince Sisowath "mentioned to me on April 20

that he was going to resign at the end of the month, that would mean he gave

about 10 days notice."

When asked whether the Prince's decision was

likely to have been personally or politically motivated, Chanta said "I really

don't know. It is too early to talk about this... maybe these things come out

over time."

Chanta confirmed he worked closely with the Prince, and when

asked if there had been any indication he had been unhappy in his work, said:

"No, no, no."

"Personally, I think his performance was very good, he

handled it well. We are very busy here, and he had a lot of support from the

staff, from everybody... they liked him very much. But lately he decided to

quit, I don't know the reason. He mentioned to me he might try to find another

job."

Chanta said there had been no reaction as yet from the Malaysian

partners of RAC "but it is still early yet, there might be a reaction in the

future maybe, but not now."

Chanta - who had previously worked for "a

long time" for a airline company operating out of Houston International Airport

in Texas - said that the Prince, like himself, was selected for the position by

the two Prime Ministers on July 4, 1994.

Cambodia - as 60 percent

shareholder of RAC - is presently entitled to four directors (three nominated by

the 'Class A' shareholders, one by the 'Class C' shareholders) on the RAC board.

The 'Class C' director - in this case Prince Sisowath - is nominated chairman of

the board with no casting vote. Cambodia also appoints two vice-chairmen, and

Malaysia one.

The only other significant responsibility of the chairman,

as described in the RAC contract, is that he must also chair any general meeting

of shareholders.