Phnom Penh (VNA)– Cambodia’s draft law on state property management, which was reviewed by thecountry’s National Assembly at the request of the government, has been handedover to an expert committee for further study.

The Khmer Times reported that the CambodianCouncil of Ministers adopted the draft law, which contains 12 chapters and 90articles, at its meeting chaired by Prime Minister Hun Sen on July 3.

A statement from the Council of Ministers saidthat the bill is based on Article 58 of the 1993 Cambodian Constitution.

This article states that state property includesland, underground, mountains, seas, seabed, undersea, under-seabed, beach, airspaces, islands, rivers, creek, lakes, tributaries, forests, natural resources,economic and cultural centres, national defence bases and other buildings aredesignated as state-owned and managed by Cambodian law.

The National Assembly permanent committee notedin a statement that the draft law is designed to strengthen the legalframework, institutional structure and enhance the institutional capacity inmanaging state assets.

It includes identifying types of state assetsources, strengthening legal systems, managing property and inventory of stateproperty, transfer of asset tenure, development, use of state property,inspection and audit, incentives and penalties for violations of the lawregarding such, the statement added.

Executive director of Transparency InternationalCambodia Pech Pisey said the formation of the law on state property is apositive move because Cambodia has yet to have such specific laws covering thematter./.