Prime Minister Hun Sen’s younger sister Hun Sinath received the title of nobility “oknha” by royal decree on Wednesday.
Sinath, 68, posted a photo of the decree on her popular TikTok channel with the song lyrics: “I have this day because my parents work hard to nurture my behavior…” She also included a photo of her with her father. Sinath could not be reached for comment.
The title translates to “lord.” There are approximately 1,200 people with the titles oknha or “neak oknha,” a higher ranking honorific, according to Hun Lak, spokesperson of the Cambodia Oknha Association.
Dozens of oknha titles have been awarded in the past year, according to database Kamnotra. Earlier this week, Kith Sula, the 18-year-old son of neak oknha Kith Meng, founder of the Royal Group, became the youngest person when he was granted the title of oknha on July 4.
“From the moment you were born, I knew you were destined for greatness,” Meng wrote in a June Facebook post to commemorate his son’s birthday.
Meng’s wife Mao Chamnan also received the title neak oknha on July 4.
Lak said the oknha title is generally awarded following a donation to the government of half a million dollars, charitable and social work and “contribution to nation-building.” He did not comment on what Sinath had done specifically to earn her title.
Hun Sen’s sister Sinath is listed as a director of the ACE Group via Commerce Ministry records, which runs lounges, restaurants and a law firm, according to the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce.
Hun Sen’s cabinet chief Ho Sithy and government spokesperson Phay Siphan could not be reached for comment.
Sinath was the former undersecretary of state at the Ministry of National Assembly Senate Relations and Inspection but resigned in 2014, allegedly because the ministry would not investigate a Kampong Speu land dispute involving tycoon Ly Yong Phat.
She is popular on social media with more than 300,000 followers on both her Facebook and TikTok accounts.
