The Cambodian government has said it will create two new provinces in what it says is a plan to increase administrative efficiency and public order.
The two new provinces will be formed from a land cut from Kandal province and from two districts in Mondulkiri and Ratanakkiri provinces.
In a letter published on Friday, Interior Minister Sar Kheng asked Prime Minister Hun Sen to authorize the creation of the new provinces.
He said the plan was “based on general observations on Cambodia’s geography and demographics of administrative management, maintaining security and public order, local development and public service providing to citizens.”
Khieu Sopheak, an interior ministry spokesman, said the existing provinces were too large and administering them was causing inefficiencies.
He also played down the cost of the move, saying such details were yet to be worked out.
In 2013, the government created Tbong Khmum province by dividing Kampong Cham province for similar reasons.
At the time, the then-opposition party was dominant in the province.
Meas Nee, a political analyst, said the creation of new provinces was a waste of public money.
“The intention is to create places for officials or those loyal to the party,” he said, adding that in the past public service provision had not improved after new administrative districts were created.
A better use of funds would be to put more money into paying local officials and building infrastructure, he said.
