Kuala lumpur:<Text>

Malaysians planning to travel to Hat Yai during the Chinese New Year holidays next month are advised to make thorough preparations, particularly by ensuring they have appropriate health and vehicle insurance coverage before embarking on their journey to southern Thailand. Malaysia's Consul-General in Songkhla Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi emphasized the importance of such precautions, especially considering recent events.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, travellers should ensure that their motor insurance policies include flood coverage as an early precaution, taking lessons from the flooding that hit Hat Yai in late November last year. Ahmad Fahmi assured that the situation in Hat Yai is now safe and the roads have been cleared. He mentioned this during the Ziarah Mahabbah to the Andaman Region 2026 programme organized by the Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs).

He further informed that about 60 per cent of hotels and around 50 per cent of eateries in Hat Yai have resumed operations following the floods. With the Chinese New Year holidays approaching, efforts are being made to reopen up to 80 per cent of the hotels that were previously closed due to the floods. Major tourist attractions like the Lee Garden Night Market and Kim Yong Market have also reopened to the public.

Ahmad Fahmi highlighted that the Thai government has estimated total losses in Hat Yai and surrounding areas due to the floods at RM1.3 billion, involving damages to properties and premises as well as the loss of economic activities.

Meanwhile, the Ziarah Mahabbah programme, which entered its 11th edition, was led by the Raja Muda of Perlis, who is also the President of MAIPs, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail. The Raja Puan Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil, was also in attendance.

MAIPs chief executive officer Mohd Nazim Mohd Noor and the Board of Directors of the MAIPs Asnaf Transformation Academy (ATAM) participated in the programme. Highlights included the annual audience ceremony on the Raja Muda of Perlis by the heads or representatives of the Islamic Religious Councils (MAI) of the six Andaman provinces, namely Krabi, Ranong, Phuket, Phang Nga, Trang, and Satun.

Tuanku Syed Faizuddin and Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen also graced the promotion of Perlis' signature dish, Kurma Daging, and the Visit Perlis Year 2024-2026 as part of the programme.