Written by Dr Nicholas Gani
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH) at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) recently hosted a visit from a delegation from the ThaiHealth Academy (THA). The visit, which took place on August 5, 2025, was part of the academy’s Equity Leaders (EL) Programme. The ThaiHealth Academy is a non-profit organisation established in 2020 as a sub-unit of the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. The EL programme is the THA’s signature initiative to enhance participants’ knowledge of health equity, strengthen leadership development, and build networks in Southeast Asia. This particular programme is the 4th Equity Leaders Programme, which runs from 2025 to 2026.
Led by Professor Dr Nantawat Sitdiraksa, who serves as the Managing Director of the ThaiHealth Academy and Head of the Equity Leaders Programme, the group included 20 participants from diverse professional backgrounds. These individuals represent various sectors, including public health, education, community development, and policy advocacy. The visit to UNIMAS was a component of a site study in Malaysia, which also included visits to Kelantan and Kuala Lumpur. The objective of this site study, ‘Bridging Cultures and Identities: Lessons from Thailand to Kelantan, Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’, is for the EL participants to gain an understanding of social coexistence and national unity in a multicultural setting. Prior to the visit to UNIMAS, the group spent the morning exploring Kampung Annah Rais, a Bidayuh village in Padawan, with the objective of learning about the integration of indigenous communities in Sarawak.
The visit began with a welcoming address from Dr Nicholas Gani, the Deputy Dean (Research and Commercialisation), who provided a brief introduction to the faculty. Professor Dr Nantawat Sitdiraksa then presented an overview of the ThaiHealth Academy and its Equity Leaders Programme. The highlight of the visit was a special talk entitled ‘Resurgence of the Borneo States and Federal-State Relations’ delivered by Associate Professor Dr Arnold Puyok, a member of the faculty and a Senior Lecturer in the Politics and Government Studies Programme. The talk provided learning points for the participants to understand Sabah and Sarawak’s unique socio-political landscape, its governance structure, and its relationship with the Malaysian federal government. It also focused on the region’s ethnic diversity and social coexistence among the various ethnic as well as indigenous groups, which makes it a model for social coexistence. The talk sparked an enthusiastic discussion, with participants drawing parallels between the political dynamics of Sabah and Sarawak and those in southern Thailand.
This visit was not only a platform for intellectual exchange but also a crucial step in exploring potential collaborative opportunities between the ThaiHealth Academy, its EL participants, and FSSH, UNIMAS. The successful event marks a significant step toward fostering international partnerships and knowledge exchange, opening doors for future collaborative projects between the two institutions. As ‘a partner for social change’, the Faculty remains committed to engaging in impactful global discussions and partnerships.
FSSH – A partner for social change