KRABI, Jan 26 — Malaysians intending to travel to Hat Yai during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays are urged to plan carefully, including ensuring they have adequate health and vehicle insurance before heading to southern Thailand.
KRABI, Jan 26 — Malaysians intending to travel to Hat Yai during the upcoming Chinese New Year holidays are urged to plan carefully, including ensuring they have adequate health and vehicle insurance before heading to southern Thailand.
Malaysia’s Consul-General in Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi, advised travellers to check that their motor insurance policies include flood coverage, taking lessons from the floods that struck Hat Yai in late November last year.
He said the situation in Hat Yai has since stabilised, with roads now cleared and safe for travel. Ahmad Fahmi was speaking to reporters during the Ziarah Mahabbah to the Andaman Region 2026 programme organised by the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs), held here from Jan 23 to yesterday.
According to him, about 60 per cent of hotels and roughly half of the eateries in Hat Yai have resumed operations following the floods. With the Chinese New Year holiday period approaching, hotel operators are aiming to reopen up to 80 per cent of previously affected hotels. He added that most major tourist attractions, including Lee Garden Night Market and Kim Yong Market, are already open to visitors.
Ahmad Fahmi noted that the Thai government has estimated flood-related losses in Hat Yai and surrounding areas at RM1.3 billion, covering damage to properties and business premises as well as losses from disrupted economic activities.
The Ziarah Mahabbah programme, now in its 11th edition, was led by the Raja Muda of Perlis, who is also the President of MAIPs, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail. Also in attendance was the Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil. MAIPs chief executive officer Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor and members of the Board of Directors of the MAIPs Asnaf Transformation Academy (ATAM) also participated.
Highlights of the programme included the annual audience ceremony with the Raja Muda of Perlis involving heads or representatives of Islamic Religious Councils from six Andaman provinces — Krabi, Ranong, Phuket, Phang Nga, Trang and Satun.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin and Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen also officiated the promotion of Perlis’ signature dish, Kurma Daging, and the Visit Perlis Year 2024–2026 campaign as part of the programme. — Bernama
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