BAGAN DATUK, Nov 23 (Bernama) -- The Foreign Ministry and the Thai Government will coordinate assistance for Malaysians stranded in Hatyai following severe floods, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
He said the government will also be receiving updates on the flood situation in the affected areas through the Malaysian Consulate General in Songkhla.
“We will obtain the latest information from our Consul General in Songkhla, and coordination will be carried out with the Foreign Ministry, and possibly with the Thai Government, as well as the Songkhla governor, to channel assistance to our people there.
“As far as possible, they want to return home quickly, and we may provide heavy vehicles to transport them so they can return to their respective areas,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat (ANMS): Moh Kita Sihat’ roadshow here today.
According to media reports, some 4,000 Malaysians are stranded following floods in Hatyai and several areas in southern Thailand. They are reported to be safe.
Ahmad Zahid said water levels are expected to recede by midday today, and expressed hope that coordination can be carried out immediately if there are still Malaysians stranded so that they can be brought home as soon as possible.
“Among them are students and teachers, about 40 people, and we hope they will cooperate with the Consul General in Songkhla so they can return to Malaysia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid, who is also National Disaster Management Committee chairman, said he informed the Cabinet that preparedness measures through the Central Disaster Committee and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) have been mobilised since Nov 13 for the Northeast Monsoon season.
“Currently, six states are affected...Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perlis, Kedah and Penang, as well as parts of northern Perak,” he said.
He said the government has coordinated with the relevant agencies to ensure that early evacuation alerts, issued three days before expected heavy rain and rising water levels, are followed.
On Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates who may be affected by floods, Ahmad Zahid said the Education Ministry already has measures in place to handle the situation.
Regarding today’s programme, which was also attended by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, he said a total of 1,951 participants took part in the three events held.
Earlier, he flagged off the Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run 2025 for the 5km category, and officiated the 2025 National Healthy Malaysia Agenda (ANMS) programme involving Santuni MADANI with MyCHAMPION and the National Gotong-Royong MEGA (Fight Aedes 2.0).
He said participants from Germany, the Maldives and Singapore also took part in the Sultan Nazrin Shah Bridge Run, which entered its second edition this year.
“Insya-Allah, the event will become an annual programme. What matters most is that it promotes a healthy lifestyle,” Ahmad Zahid said.
-- BERNAMA
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