"Sabida" presents evidence of Cambodia's "Sampot" costume featured on ASEAN postage stamps in 2019 and firmly warns against claiming Thai cultural items as their own. She points out that the images of ancient Thai women from King Rama V's era have documented originals held by the Fine Arts Department and prepares to send a legal letter targeting Miss Universe Cambodia.
On 21 September 2026 at 09:30 GMT+7, at the National Archives Office, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, held a press conference to clarify the case where the Miss Universe Cambodia 2026 pageant showcased Thai traditional costume and displayed old photographs of Siamese women from the past on stage for several minutes.
She stated that the Ministry of Culture considers this act not merely a lack of awareness but a clear indication that the creators of the video intended to falsely claim and persuade the public to believe the attire as genuinely Cambodian. The Ministry demands the pageant to stop this action and the dissemination of distorted information. She urged extreme caution in referencing photographic data, as the images depict women from Kamphaeng Phet taken in 1906 (B.E. 2449) during King Rama V’s reign. Importantly, these photos are archived in the Vajirayan Library and were registered as a Memory of the World by UNESCO in 2017. The original glass negatives bear a watermark of the Fine Arts Department, but the pageant cropped out these marks.
Therefore, using the images without citing their source is unacceptable. The Ministry of Culture will send a formal warning letter to the pageant organizers demanding corrections. If no action is taken, the Ministry will proceed with legal measures through appropriate channels.
Regarding whether further action will be escalated if the organizers fail to take responsibility, Ms. Sabida said that appropriate channels will be pursued, starting with diplomatic warnings. She emphasized not wanting this to become a state-to-state issue but stated that if Cambodian private sector entities continue to present distorted information, Thailand must issue warnings and, if uncorrected, reserve the right to pursue legal action.
Ms. Sabida added that it is important for Thai people to stand firm on the facts. The Ministry will continue to disseminate complete and evidence-based information. Previously, the Ministry conducted roadshows on Thai costumes at various global forums to raise awareness among the international community and the Thai government’s agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has exhibited Thai costumes in several countries. Additionally, Thailand exchanges artifacts with South Korea, featuring Thai antiques and royal Thai fabrics in museums. She stressed that the Ministry uses all platforms to communicate and is not complacent; foreigners show interest in the origins of Thai costume presentations. Recently, Thai costumes were showcased in Japan, drawing significant attention. The Ministry emphasizes cultural dialogue to foster understanding, not to create conflict.
"In cases of violation, we will not let it pass. We will take decisive action by assigning the Fine Arts Department and the National Archives, the copyright holders, to proceed accordingly."
Regarding the timeline for action, Ms. Sabida said the letter to Cambodia will set a deadline for correction, stressing the need for prompt action. She reaffirmed that while the Ministry of Culture is deeply concerned, it will act with patience and restraint to achieve the successful registration of Thai traditional costume as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, based on clear and comprehensive facts and evidence.
Asked whether Thailand expects Cambodia’s representatives to apologize alongside clarifying the facts, Ms. Sabida replied that such an outcome is anticipated.
When asked if they know where Cambodia sourced the images, Ms. Sabida said investigations are ongoing, but preliminary assessments indicate the images were cropped to remove watermarks. The photos originate from glass plate negatives stored at the National Archives. This clarity allows Thailand to assert that Cambodia distorted the facts. The Fine Arts Department posted this information on social media on 5 August. Thailand seeks to create a digital footprint to facilitate correct use of its data and requests proper source referencing.
"Actually, these images are public data shared openly but include watermarks. Being registered as a Memory of the World means the data can be publicly accessed. For details and evidence, media can consult the Director of the National Archives who has complete and accurate information. Today, all questions raised by society have been fully addressed. I emphasize again that the Ministry of Culture will not overlook this matter."
Asked if the Ministry of Culture has been too passive, Ms. Sabida said no, noting that within less than 24 hours of the issue arising, she held a press conference. Upon returning from Japan yesterday, she felt urgency but insists on acting prudently and based on clear evidence. Furthermore, statements will be issued in multiple languages including English, French, Chinese, and Japanese.
When asked if she is tired of frequent unauthorized use of Thai data, Ms. Sabida said that perhaps they want to help promote Thailand but urged them to give proper credit and references. She stressed the need for calm to first secure the registration of Thai traditional costume as UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.
Ms. Sabida reiterated the need for careful and prudent efforts to avoid unexpected issues during registration. Roadshows abroad are ongoing to raise awareness. The Ministry will intensify efforts to counter misinformation by creating a strong digital footprint representing Thailand’s valuable knowledge. She urged not to share others’ content or help spread their misinformation.
After the press conference, Ms. Sabida viewed the original glass plate negatives displayed at the National Archives and revealed that in 2017, Thailand was invited by the Thai Ambassador in Phnom Penh to exhibit Thai traditional costumes in Cambodia, selecting the Chitlada costume while Cambodia displayed the Sampot. Additionally, ASEAN issued postage stamps in 2019 featuring national costumes of member countries. Thailand’s stamp showed women wearing a shawl and men in loincloths, whereas Cambodia’s stamp depicted the Sampot.
Photo by Saran Pongsawat.