Gov’t to investigate Olympic Stadium Developer

Cambodian government made decision to form committee to investigate the contract signed in May 29, 2000 costing $3.6 million between Ministry of Education and Taiwanese-owned, Yuanta Group Company that was given land around Olympic Stadium in return for renovating facility whether company is in conformity with the contract. If not, the government will end contract with company.

According to prime minister’s directive signed Jan 2, 2007 he called for 12-inter-ministerial committee that consists of officials from the ministries of Education, Finance, Justice and Land Management, including other officials from Phnom Penh municipality, the Council for the Development of Cambodia and the Council of Ministers’ Council of Jurists to investigate and solve the relevant problems with the contract for repairing 1960s-era complex.

Olympic Stadium designed by Vann Molyvann is one of Cambodia’s most unique and priceless works of art. It opened in 1994, inaugurated by then-price Norodom Sihanouk as s symbol of the self-sufficiency and neutrality of post-colonial Cambodia.

At the present, the new buildings around Stadium have been built up and they become gas station, motor shops, café, and restaurants. And there are now new buildings being constructed.

SRP Lawmaker Son Chhay send letter dated July 2006 through National Assembly president to request Samdech Hun Sen. In the letter, he requested Samdech Hun Sen to take measure to examine and resolve Yuanta Group’s illegal construction. He added that Yuantas’ investment is sharply criticized by people for buildings to ruin beauty and environment of Olympic Stadium and to lose the plenty of advantages of giving a big lot of land of stadium to Yuanta Campany. Reaksmey Kampuchear report.

The largest ponds around stadium were fulfilled. Why were ponds built around Stadium? They were built to protect water from flooding the city and to absorb rainwater and process sewage. In the northern portion of the complex, the two largest ponds-currently an integral part of the municipal drainage system-will eventually give way to a shopping mall, parking garage and five-star hotel, company drawings show. Street along Sihanouk Boulevard always was flooded after heavy raining.