Oknha Lau Ming Kan (born 1 January 1944,[1] Khmer: ឡៅ ម៉េងឃីន; Chinese: 劉明勤; pinyin: Liú Míngqín; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Lâu Bêng-khîn; also spelt Lau Meng Khin or Lao Meng Khin) is a Cambodian senator and businessman. He owns Pheapimex, a major conglomerate with his wife Choeung Sopheap.[2] The majority of his fortune comes from logging and other sectors, including lucrative joint ventures with Chinese investors.[3]
Lau Meng Khin | |
|---|---|
ឡៅ ម៉េងឃីន | |
| Senator of Cambodia | |
| Monarch | Norodom Sihamoni |
| Prime Minister | Hun Sen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1944 (age 80) Cambodia |
| Citizenship | Cambodia Cyprus |
| Political party | Cambodian People's Party |
| Spouse | Choeung Sopheap |
| Children | Lau Vann Lau Sok Huy Lau Yao Zhong |
| Occupation |
|
Business interests
editMeng Khin's businesses have been linked to controversies. He owns Shukaku, which was responsible for forcible land evictions at Boeung Kak lake.[4][5] In February 2007, the Phnom Penh municipality awarded Shukaku with a 99-year lease to fill in and develop the lake, which impacted 4,250 families.[6] His firm Pheapimex owns Cambodia's largest land concession.[4] He was awarded the title of Oknha in 2006.[7]
Personal life
editMeng Khin is a Chinese Cambodian of Teochew descent.[8][9] He is married to Choeung Sopheap.[2] They both hold Cypriot citizenship.[2] He has several children, including Lau Vann, "Michelle" Lau Sok Huy, and "Alex" Lau Zhong Yao.[10] Meng Khin's biological son Lau Vann is married to his stepdaughter, Choeung Sokuntheavy.[7]
Meng Khin's family has courted significant scrutiny for their significant wealth, including properties in Australia.[10] The family also has significant business and marriage ties to the children of Hun Sen.[2]
References
edit- ^ "From Chinese detainee to Cambodian diplomat: the radical rebirth of Wang Yaohui". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ a b c d "How relatives and allies of Cambodia's leader amassed wealth overseas". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Bo, Mark (2022-07-09). "Overlapping Agendas on the Belt and Road: The Case of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone". Global China Pulse. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ a b "Who profits from the death of Cambodia's democracy?". Global Witness. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Titthara, May. "Lake residents detail abuses". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ Titthara, May. "Boeung Kak families protest firm's seizing of sugarcane press". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ a b Dara, Mech (2021-06-07). "Noodle and Water Tycoon Attains Higher Oknha Rank". VOD. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ "柬埔寨参议员刘明勤接任柬潮州会馆会长-中国侨网". 中国侨网. 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
- ^ O'NEILL, DANIEL (2014). "Playing Risk: Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Cambodia". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 36 (2): 173–205. ISSN 0129-797X.
- ^ a b "Cambodian Elite Park Millions in Australia". Radio Free Asia. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2023-03-10.