SONGKHLA: The Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla and the Thai authorities have reached an agreement to set up a mechanism to facilitate a more efficient and effective distribution of flood relief aid to affected residents.
Malaysia’s Consul General in Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi, said this was part of preparations to deal with the possibility of major floods, such as the one that occurred in Hat Yai at the end of last November.
He said warehouses that could be used during floods to store relief supplies from Malaysia had been identified through discussions between the consulate and the Songkhla Governor’s Office to ensure a more coordinated distribution of aid during floods.
“When supplies from Malaysia arrive, we will immediately send them to the warehouses, and we have also agreed with the Governor’s Office that the Thai authorities will distribute the supplies to those in need,” he said.
Ahmad Fahmi said this during a visit by a delegation from the Perlis Journalists Association to his office at the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla here on Friday.
He said if the Thai authorities did not have sufficient manpower to distribute the aid, NGOs from Malaysia could distribute the supplies, with support and guidance from the Thai authorities.
“This is based on the lessons learnt from last year’s major floods, when there were piles of relief supplies from Malaysia that had arrived in Hat Yai but it was unclear who would distribute them or where they should be stored. This was one of the weaknesses we identified,” he said.
Ahmad Fahmi said the consulate was also coordinating with agencies in Malaysia for assistance to be channelled more easily from Thailand should floods occur in the northern states of Malaysia, in an arrangement agreed upon with the Thai authorities.
Regarding last year’s major floods in southern Thailand, he said about 7,000 Malaysians were rescued.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Fahmi advised Malaysians planning to travel to southern Thailand between this month and next January to closely monitor the latest weather developments.
“If there are already signs of danger, such as reports that the water level of Sungai Golok or rivers in the Hat Yai area has reached a dangerous level, Malaysians should automatically know not to travel here.
“My advice is to postpone the journey,” he said, Bernama reported.
He said the consulate had also learnt from last year’s major floods and would issue weather warnings from the Thai authorities more frequently this year through the consulate’s website and social media platforms such as Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
