Sabida presented evidence showing Cambodia’s "Sampot" costume featured on ASEAN postage stamps in 2019, insisting that Thai heritage should not be claimed as their own. She pointed to an ancient Thai woman’s image from the reign of King Rama V that has original documentation at the Fine Arts Department and announced plans to send a letter demanding legal action against Miss Universe Cambodia.
On 21 September 2026 at 09:30 GMT+7 at the National Archives, Ms. Sabida Thaiset, Minister of Culture, held a press conference addressing the Miss Universe Cambodia 2026 pageant's presentation of Thai traditional dress, which included projecting old photographs of Siamese women for several minutes on stage.
She stated that the Ministry of Culture sees this act not as ignorance but as intentional misrepresentation, aiming to persuade the public that the costumes are genuinely Cambodian. The Ministry demands the pageant cease such actions and avoid spreading distorted information. She stressed careful use of photographic references, noting the images are of women from Kamphaeng Phet taken in 1906 during King Rama V’s reign. These images are archived at the Vajirañāṇa Library and registered by UNESCO as Memory of the World in 2017. The original glass plate negatives bear the Fine Arts Department watermark, but the pageant cropped out these marks.
Therefore, using these images without proper source attribution, the Ministry of Culture will send a warning letter to the pageant organizers requesting corrections. If they fail to comply, the Ministry will pursue legal action through appropriate channels.
Previously, the Ministry of Culture has continuously promoted knowledge both domestically and internationally, especially by exhibiting royal Thai costumes abroad—in The Hague, Netherlands; Tokyo, Japan; and soon in France—providing education about ancient Thai dress as the foundation of royal Thai costume. This cultural diplomacy builds valuable awareness. The Ministry also collaborates with Thai embassies to showcase Thai costumes at major events, such as the Thailand Grand Festival 2026 in Sydney, Australia, where actress Taksorn Phaksukcharoen modeled royal Thai attire. Thai antiquities exhibitions, like those at South Korea’s National Museum—the third largest in the world—also feature traditional Thai costumes.
"As Minister of Culture and with my colleagues, I want to affirm that the Ministry uses every platform to communicate about Thai costumes and is by no means complacent. We use culture to foster understanding, not conflict. However, we will not tolerate violations and will take firm action. I thank the Thai people for cherishing our national costume heritage. We share this love and commitment equally. The Ministry assures it will act seriously and not overlook this matter. We also appreciate neighboring countries’ interest in promoting Thai costumes but urge them to properly credit sources," she said.
In all actions, the Ministry of Culture will proceed cautiously and carefully to ensure the registration of royal Thai costumes as intangible cultural heritage in December goes smoothly.
Asked whether further actions will be taken if the pageant fails to take responsibility, Ms. Sabida responded that appropriate channels will be followed, starting with diplomatic warnings. She emphasized not wanting a state-to-state conflict but said if Cambodian private entities present distorted information and refuse to correct it, Thailand reserves the right to consider legal measures.
Ms. Sabida added that it is important for Thai people to remain firm in their knowledge. The Ministry will continue disseminating complete and referenced information. It has conducted roadshows worldwide to raise awareness among the global community, including the Thai government’s strong support through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which has exhibited Thai costumes in many countries. Notably, Thailand exchanges antiquities with South Korea, displaying Thai artifacts and royal costumes in museums. She emphasized using every platform to communicate and noted foreign interest in Thai costume origins, citing recent exhibitions in Japan. The Ministry aims to use cultural dialogue to build understanding, not conflict.
"In cases of infringement, we will not overlook the matter. We will act decisively by assigning the Fine Arts Department and the National Archives, as copyright holders of the images, to take appropriate measures," she said.
Regarding the timeline for action, Ms. Sabida said the letter to Cambodia will specify deadlines for correction, stressing the need for prompt action. She reiterated the Ministry’s deep concern but emphasized that emotions cannot govern decisions. Patience and restraint are necessary to achieve successful UNESCO registration of royal Thai costumes, with all actions grounded in clear, complete facts and evidence.
When asked if Cambodia’s representatives should apologize alongside clarifications, Ms. Sabida said that such an outcome is expected.
Asked whether the source of Cambodia’s images is known, Ms. Sabida said the Ministry is investigating. Preliminary assessment indicates the images were taken from original glass plate negatives held by the National Archives, with watermarks removed. This clarity allows Thailand to assert Cambodia’s data distortion. The Fine Arts Department posted evidence on social media on 5 August. Thailand aims to build a digital footprint to prevent misuse and requests proper source referencing.
"Actually, these images are public information disseminated with watermarks. Being registered as Memory of the World means they can be publicly shared. For detailed evidence, media can consult the National Archives director, who holds complete and accurate information. Today, we have fully addressed public questions and reiterate that the Ministry will not overlook this matter," she emphasized.
When asked if the Ministry was too slow to respond, Ms. Sabida said no. The statement was issued within 24 hours of the issue arising. She felt concerned returning from Japan but insisted on careful, deliberate action backed by clear evidence. Further statements will be released in multiple languages including English, French, Chinese, and Japanese.
Asked if she is frustrated by frequent unauthorized use of Thai data, Ms. Sabida said they likely want to help promote Thai culture but urged them to give credit and references. She stressed patience, hoping Thai costumes will first be registered as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.
Ms. Sabida reiterated the need for careful, deliberate steps to avoid unexpected problems in the registration process. Ongoing roadshows abroad raise awareness, and intensive efforts are needed to promote positive Thai cultural knowledge digitally. She urged not to share others’ misappropriated materials.
After the press conference, Ms. Sabida viewed original glass plate photographs from the National Archives on display. She revealed that in 2017, Thailand was invited by the Thai ambassador in Phnom Penh to exhibit Thai costumes in Cambodia, selecting the Chitralada dress, while Cambodia showcased the Sampot. In 2019, ASEAN issued postage stamps highlighting each nation’s traditional costume: Thai women wearing a shawl and men in chong kraben, while Cambodia’s stamp depicted the Sampot.
Photo by Sarun Pongsawat