Minister of Finance Keat Chhon is calling for an investigation into the possibility the Council of Ministers is selling Yukunthor High School to private business interests for $3 million.
The school, located at the prime real estate corner of Sihanouk and Monivong boulevards, has 3,550 students.
Rumors of the sale were reported in Khmer newspapers and radio. The school is currently in a break period.
“[Keat Chhon] called me up and asked me to investigate,” Kaing Leang Khan, director of the property department for the Ministry of Finance, said.
Kaing Leang Khan emphasized the Ministry of Finance would not agree with the idea of selling the state-owned property.
“They cannot sell unless they get the approval of the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister,” he said. “They cannot sell quietly to anyone. If it is sold, we want to see the money. The money must go to the national treasury.”
Council of Ministers spokesman Khieu Thavika said Thursday he could not confirm or deny the potential sale.
Im Sethy, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, said he hopes the rumor is false. “Our youth and children really need that school for education,” he said. “It will look very bad if the school is sold.”
Phai Sao Mony, Deputy Director at Yukunthor School, said high-ranking officials tried to sell the school in 1997, but were not successful.
“If the school is sold, it will make difficulties for 3,550 students. I don’t think their parents will be happy with the idea of selling it.”
