On 24 September 2024, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited Yala Province to perform Royal Duties at the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC). On this occasion, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn visited the exhibition booth organized by SBPAC to display information on the DNA testing project to assist Thai nationals in Malaysia with incomplete civil registration status. Mr. Phasit Chudabuddhi, Consul-General of Thailand to Kota Bharu, presented the progress report of the DNA Testing Project in 2024, which had been conducted in collaboration with SBPAC and relevant agencies at the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kota Bharu during 28-29 May 2024, to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

The DNA Testing Project aims to assist Thai nationals in Malaysia with incomplete civil registration status to help them gain Thai nationality in order to access state services such as education, healthcare, and passport issuance, the latter of which will enable them to live legally in Malaysia. In the 2024 fiscal year, a total of 234 individuals participated in the project, the highest number on record since the project’s inception, reflecting policy success of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in protection of Thai nationals abroad.