The Malaysian consul general in Songkhla Province has denied media reports that Malaysians were forced out of hotels in Hat Yai District where they were being stranded by flash floods.
The New Straits Times quoted Malaysian Consul-General Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi as describing the reports as a misunderstanding.
"I want to emphasize that no Malaysian has been forced out or evicted from their hotels, as claimed in some media reports,” he said.
He explained that several hotels where Malaysians were staying had no electricity, no water supply and had run out of food due to the flooding that has hit the city over the past few days.
"The consulate, in cooperation with the Songkhla Hotel Association and a Thai foundation, has been working together to resolve the situation," he told the Malaysian media outlet.
Hotel operators contacted by Thai PBS have also confirmed that they had no policy of forcing out their Malaysian guests. Some said they also provided foods and water for them.
Fahmi said Malaysians stranded in Hat Yai over the past several days due to the floods will be relocated from their hotels.
He added that the relocation operation began today, with an estimated 500 to 600 Malaysians expected to be moved before the end of the day.
He said the affected individuals would either be sent directly to Hat Yai International Airport to return home, or transferred to hotels that were not affected by the floods.
