On 6 September 2023 Her Excellency Ms. Lada Phumas, Ambassador of Thailand to Malaysia, led Dr. Krissanapong Kirtikara, Chairman of the Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation (PMCAF) and 12 Committee Members, to call upon Dato’ Indera Nik Nasarudin bin Mohd Zawawi, Secretary General of Education, at the Ministry of Education in Putrajaya.

Ambassador extended her appreciation to the Secretary General for accepting the courtesy call and for the warm welcome by the Ministry of Education. The courtesy call was the first official meeting between Her Excellency and the Secretary General since her assumption of duty in Malaysia in April 2023 and after her presentation of credentials to the Yang-di Pertuan Agong in August 2023. Ambassador emphasised the important role played by the PMCAF as one of the mechanisms through which both sides can work together to strengthen the close bond between the governments and peoples of the two countries.  Her Excellency also expressed her appreciation towards the Ministry of Education for their continuous support and cooperation with the PMCAF since its inception, and also wished the PMCAF’s visit to SK Raja Bahar, Kota Bharu, Kelantan (the Secretary General’s hometown) a success, and thus further contributing to education development of the two countries.

On this occasion, Her Excellency hosted a luncheon at the Thai Ambassador Residence in honour of Dr. Krissanapong Kirtikara, Chairman, PMCAF Committee Members, and three PMCA Recipients (Mr. Zainuddin Zakaria 2015 PMCA Recipient, Ms. Hajah Saripah Binti Embong 2017 PMCA Recipient, and Saifulnizan bin Che Ismail 2023 PMCA Recipient). Representatives from the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, Malaysian media (Bernama, TV 9 Media Prima, and Press from the Ministry of Education of Malaysia), as well as Thai businesses in Malaysia, namely, CP Malaysia, PTTEP, Laem Charoen Seafood Group, and Malaysia-Thailand Joint Authority, were also present. This provided a good opportunity for the introduction of PMCAF and the Malaysian PMCA award Recipients to the Thai businesses, and to discuss ways to support the potentials of the awarded teachers, as well as future opportunities for their students.

The conferment of the Princess Maha Chakri Award (PMCA) takes place every two years, and since 2015 the Award has been given to outstanding teachers from 11 countries (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Brunei, and Timor-Leste). As for the selection process, PMCAF Committee would set out broad guidelines, while the selection of awardees is at the respective countries’ discretion. The 5^th PMCA, to be held in October 2023, will be presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. For more information on Princess Maha Chakri Award: www.pmca.or.th