Lau Meng Khin

In this Cambodian name, the surname is Lau. In accordance with Cambodian custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Meng Khin.
Oknha
Lau Meng Khin
ឡៅ ម៉េងឃីន
Senator of Cambodia
MonarchNorodom Sihamoni
Prime MinisterHun Sen
Personal details
Born1 January 1944 (1944-01) (age 81)
Cambodia
CitizenshipCambodia
Cyprus
Political partyCambodian People's Party
SpouseChoeung Sopheap
ChildrenLau Vann
Lau Sok Huy
Lau Yao Zhong
Occupation
  • Politician
  • businessman

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]

Business interests

Meng 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

Meng 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

  1. ^ "From Chinese detainee to Cambodian diplomat: the radical rebirth of Wang Yaohui". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  2. ^ a b c d "How relatives and allies of Cambodia's leader amassed wealth overseas". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "Who profits from the death of Cambodia's democracy?". Global Witness. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  5. ^ Titthara, May. "Lake residents detail abuses". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  6. ^ Titthara, May. "Boeung Kak families protest firm's seizing of sugarcane press". www.phnompenhpost.com. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  7. ^ a b Dara, Mech (2021-06-07). "Noodle and Water Tycoon Attains Higher Oknha Rank". VOD. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ O'NEILL, DANIEL (2014). "Playing Risk: Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Cambodia". Contemporary Southeast Asia. 36 (2): 173–205. ISSN 0129-797X.
  10. ^ a b "Cambodian Elite Park Millions in Australia". Radio Free Asia. 2021-02-16. Retrieved 2023-03-10.