Kep (FN), Nov. 11 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet confirmed that the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) has not been sold or exchanged privately, and that the school expanded to Win-win Boulevard due to the steady growth of students.

The premier spoke on Monday (Nov. 11) during an inauguration of the Techo Santepheap Angkol Beach Road at Kep province.

Samdech Thipadei underscored, "The school now has more students, which is why they established another campus on Win-win Boulevard, as the school has recently opened a new branch."

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet dismissed this report as fake news, pointing out that the news outlet used the same style of spreading information without reliable sources, aiming to create confusion and harm the public's trust in the Royal Government. He also urged efforts to combat misinformation to prevent any negative impact on Cambodian society.

Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that both ITC and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport have clarified the false information to ensure the public understands the true situation regarding the school's integrity. Samdech Thipadei observed that fake news spreads faster than real news, which misleads people and gives malicious actors an opportunity to generate false information.

The premier added that every citizen has the right to access accurate information and should seek information from reliable sources to better understand the true state of affairs in their country.

"VOD is no longer permitted to operate in Cambodia due to its dissemination of false (fake) information," Samdech Thipadei further underscored.

The premier underlined that the journalism profession must uphold its responsibility to disseminate accurate information to its audience. Journalists should ensure that they transmit truthful information to their readers if they are professional and intentional in their work. However, if there are malicious intentions, even with accurate information, it may be rejected.

Regarding VOD's dissemination of false information, Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet recalled an incident in which VOD Radio had broadcast false claims, stating that Samdech Thipadei had the authority to sign on behalf of the Royal Government at a time when Samdech Thipadei had not yet assumed the position of prime minister. Despite the availability of real information that could have clarified the situation, VOD refused to broadcast it and instead continued to ridicule the Royal Government for political gain, based on the false information it had previously published.

On 8 November 2024, ITC issued a statement rejecting VOD Khmer's report that the institute had been sold to private traders under the pretext of a land exchange. The institute completely denied the broadcast, asserting that it was baseless and defamatory, aiming to confuse the public.

ITC’s main campus on Russian Federation Boulevard continues to enhance its facilities to support advanced research and training in engineering, science, and technology. The expansion on Win-win Boulevard is in line with ITC's mission to meet the growing demand for education and research, in support of the Royal Government’s policies. Additionally, the Institute has expanded by building another campus along Win-win Boulevard.
=FRESH NEWS