Mohamad also advised the public to postpone any travel plans to Thailand due to the monsoon season.
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 700 Malaysians have been evacuated from Hat Yai to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah, following severe flooding in southern Thailand, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
He said the evacuation operation became possible once the floodwaters subsided, enabling Malaysian and Thai teams to reach areas that had previously been inaccessible.
“According to a report from the Consul General on Nov 26, it is now estimated that less than 500 Malaysians remain stranded, and the operation resumed this morning. As of this morning, 177 Malaysians have been rescued.
“There is a group of lecturers and students from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) who were stranded at a hotel in Old Hat Yai City, an area severely affected due to its proximity to the river and strong currents. No vehicles, including light boats, could reach the area,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a question from Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) on the government’s immediate efforts to assist Malaysians stranded in southern Thailand following the floods, as well as preventive measures to ensure other Malaysians do not face similar situations as the region enters the monsoon season.
Mohamad said that rescue boats are now able to access the area, but several land routes remain impassable to regular vehicles, forcing rescue teams to use containers to evacuate victims until bus transport can resume today.
However, he said, as the rain has subsided since yesterday, teams from central Thailand and volunteers from Hat Yai Municipality will assist in evacuating hotel guests in areas still affected by flooding and inaccessible by vehicles.
“I contacted my counterpart to ask whether Malaysian rescue teams were needed, but he said the situation could be managed by their own teams. We have received a great deal of assistance and support from the Thai authorities.
“Many of our volunteers have gone to assist in Thailand. They include volunteer firefighters from northern Malaysia—from Perlis, Kedah, and northern Perak—as well as members of other non-governmental organisations,” he said.
Mohamad also advised the public to postpone any travel plans to Thailand due to the monsoon season.
“For Malaysians still in southern Thailand, they are advised to take precautions, remain alert to weather conditions, and follow announcements or instructions from local authorities at all times.
“The Foreign Ministry, through the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok and the Consulate General in Songkhla, will continue to implement the best measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Malaysians there,” he said.
