Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents the Royal Kathina Robes at Wat Chayamangkalaram, Penang, Malaysia

On 11 October 2025, Mrs. Sirilak Niyom, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in presiding over the Presentation Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua at Wat Chayamangkalaram in Penang, Malaysia. The ceremony was led by Venerable Phra Khru Vineythorn Seeprom, the abbot of Wat Chayamangkalaram.

The ceremony was also attended by Mr. Psusist Wongsurawat, Consul-General of Thailand to Penang; Mr. Anan Pikultipsakorn, Minister at the Royal Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur; officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Thai, Malaysian, and foreign Buddhists residing in Malaysia; as well as distinguished Malaysian guests, including YB Puan Syerleena Abdul Rashid, Member of Parliament of Malaysia.

This year's Royal Kathina offering received contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the donations from Thai and Malaysian devotees with total donations amounting to 1,028,000 baht (approximately 134,241.06 ringgit).

Wat Chayamangkalaram was established in 1845 during the reign of King Rama III, with land support from the East India Company, to serve the Siamese community on Penang Island. Originally called Wat Pulau Tikus, it was renamed Wat Chayamangkalaram on 17 May 1948. Later, on 25 June 1962, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit graciously presided over the eye-opening ceremony of the Reclining Buddha, the largest reclining Buddha image in Malaysia, which His Majesty graciously named Phra Buddha Chaiyamongkol.

In 2010, the Ministry of Culture of Malaysia listed Wat Chayamangkalaram as a cultural preservation area due to its historical, religious, and artistic significance. The temple currently houses five resident monks who perform Buddhist duties.

This event marks the 13th Royal Kathina Ceremony in Malaysia, reflecting the deep and enduring cultural ties between Thailand and Malaysia.

Since 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes annually at Buddhist temples abroad as part of Thailand's cultural diplomacy efforts to strengthen friendship and foster people-to-people ties through Buddhism. The initiative has gradually expanded from neighboring countries to ASEAN members, South Asia, and East Asia. In 2025, the Royal Kathina Robes are being presented in eight countries - India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and China.