Between 30 July - 2 August 2025, Mr. Natthaphon Sapsinsoonthon, Head of International Security Unit, along with officials and officers from the International Security Unit, led six youth representatives from the Southern Border Provinces (SBPs) of Thailand to visit Penang, Malaysia. They met with government agencies that play key roles in supporting initiatives to promote Penang’s multicultural society, as well as to study the city’s urban landscape and planning, which reflect its religious and cultural diversity.

The delegation paid a visit to Mr. Psusist Wongsurawat, Consul-General of Thailand to Penang, to be briefed fundamental understanding on the history of Penang’s multiculturalism. They also visited (1) Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Penang Office; (2) Tourism Malaysia; (3) Penang Global Tourism; (4) Penang State Executive Councillor for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Heritage; and (5) Penang State Executive Councillor for Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs. These meetings provided opportunities for the youth representatives to enhance understanding and exchange views on Penang’s model of multiculturalism (“cultural mosaic”), as characterized by the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, and language backgrounds, highlighted the role of government agencies in constructing and representing multiculturalism, while establishing mechanisms to promote participation and constructive interaction among all sectors of society.

In addition, the delegation also visited key cultural sites in Penang that reflect the concept of peaceful coexistence in a multicultural society, particularly along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, also known as the “Street of Harmony,” where places of worship of different religions are located, such as St. George’s Anglican Church, the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the Kapitan Keling Mosque, and the Sri Mahamariamman Temple. They expressed interest and exchanged viewpoints on multicultural society in the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand, while experiencing first-hand knowledge on multicultural society in Penang, which are valuable and can be further applied to the future development of harmonious co-existence of people in diversity of the SBPs.