Lieutenant General Maly Socheata: Spokesperson for Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense

Brickinfo News Agency – Following recent border tensions between Thailand and Cambodia, the name of Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia, has become prominent in Thai media.

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Her public statements in response to the border incidents on July 24 have led to online speculation among Thai netizens regarding her past identity. Many have questioned whether she is Tata (តាតា), a Cambodian artist who released music in 2010 that bore similarities to songs by the Korean group 2NE1.

Early Life and Public Service Career of Maly Socheata

Lieutenant General Maly Socheata was born on November 28, 1983. She married Kong Phok, then Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in 2016.

Her career in public service began after passing the civil servant examination for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in 2006, where she initially served as an officer for the National Council for Women of Cambodia.

She also held positions within the National Children’s Council of Cambodia and as a member of the Central Committee of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UNYC). Additionally, she served as Vice President of the working group supporting the Cambodian People’s Party’s foundation in Angkor Thom District, Siem Reap Province.

Ascension to Leadership Roles

On April 12, 2023, His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia issued a Royal Decree promoting Ms. Maly Socheata, with identification number 004291, to the rank of Lieutenant General of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. This promotion was further acknowledged on April 20, 2023, by former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh. Lieutenant General Maly Socheata was first appointed Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense in 2013, following the 5th parliamentary elections.

According to her official Facebook page, Lieutenant General Maly Socheata stated that during her internship at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, she received “training, guidance, and opportunities that allowed her to fully contribute to her duties, as well as training and refinement until she became a more capable person to receive opportunities such as the present.”

Having served two terms as Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of National Defense, Prime Minister Hun Sen reportedly expressed the need for her and Dam Dariny to continue their long-term service within the ministry, emphasizing their roles as professional military officers.

In mid-July 2025, she has frequently addressed the media regarding the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, specifically concerning landmine explosions and military clashes.

Addressing the “2NE1 of Cambodia” Speculation

Despite online speculation, there is no conclusive evidence to support the claim that Lieutenant General Maly Socheata is Tata, the Cambodian artist rumored to have released music similar to 2NE1 in 2010.

Records indicate the artist in question is Tata from Sunday Production. Given Lieutenant General Maly Socheata‘s birth year, she would have been approximately 27 years old when Tata‘s music was released, which some have noted may not align with the possibility of her being the same individual.