Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday named one minister and a national police chief who will become deputy prime ministers in the Cabinet in the 7th mandate led by Hun Manet. At the inauguration of the Third Ring Road in Phnom Penh yesterday, Mr Hun Sen announced that the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Sun Chanthol, and National Police Chief, General Neth Savoeun, would become Deputy Prime Ministers in the new Cabinet. When Chanthol and Gen Savoeun take up the position of Deputy Prime Minister, the positions of Minister of Public Works and the National Police Commissioner will be filled by other people. “The older generation of government officials will resign, opening up positions such as minister and deputy minister. I am a member of parliament for Kandal province, so in February next year I will resign from the parliament, but I will return to lead the Senate,” Mr Hun Sen said. He suggested that the new Cabinet should take care of old officials working in ministries and institutions. The proposal came after Secretaries of state and Undersecretaries of State in some ministries expressed concern about being removed from office. He added that senior officials in those ministries would continue to perform their normal duties in the new term unless they resign or if they are incompetent. Neither Chanthol nor Gen Savoeun could be reached for comment yesterday. Government spokesman Phay Siphan said the two officials have many years of experience and the capability to tackle all the tasks assigned by the Prime Minister. “After becoming Deputy Prime Minister, they will act as advisors and help to perform duties assigned by the Prime Minister,” he added. In the sixth mandate, the 10 Deputy Prime Ministers included Sar Kheng, General Tea Banh, Hor Namhong, Men Sam An, Bin Chhin, Yim Chhay Ly, Ke Kim Yan, Prak Sokhonn, Aun Pornmoniroth and Chea Sophara. The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) has revealed that “90%” of Cabinet Ministers are expected to be replaced in a new Cabinet, mostly with younger blood. According to highly-placed reliable sources, the new Cabinet will consist of 30 Ministers along with 10 Deputy Prime Ministers and 11 Senior Ministers.