Kota kinabalu: Malaysians are being advised to delay their travel plans to Vietnam and Thailand due to severe flooding caused by unstable weather conditions affecting several regions in both countries, as stated by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The minister highlighted that the situation in Vietnam is particularly concerning, especially in inland and highland areas that have been drastically impacted by heavy rains and floods, resulting in numerous casualties.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad receives hourly updates from the Malaysian Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City and the embassy in Hanoi regarding the current situation. Earlier today, he received a report from the Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, confirming the severity of the flooding, particularly in regions like Dak Lak, Lai Dong, and Gia Lai. While campaigning in the 17th Sabah State Election, Mohamad mentioned his plans to contact his Vietnamese counterpart, Le Hoai Trung, to coordinate any necessary aid and to liaise with the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance in Jakarta if Vietnam requires immediate support.

Mohamad also assured that, as per the latest report received at 11 am, no Malaysians have been affected by the floods in Vietnam. Additionally, he advised Malaysians to reconsider their travel plans to Thailand, especially to Hatyai, which is experiencing flooding due to continuous rainfall. He urged those with travel arrangements to cancel their plans due to the unpredictable weather conditions.

The minister noted that over 13,000 Malaysians have exited through the Bukit Kayu Hitam and Padang Besar Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine complexes in the past three days. The evacuated Malaysians have been accommodated at Senanarong 5th Infantry Camp outside Hatyai, moving towards Songkhla, or at 12 other temporary shelters established by municipalities in Hatyai.