'Malaysian minister' apologizes to the public over the issue of transporting Hat Yai flood victims in a truck

On 27 November 2025, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohammad Hasan issued an apology to the public during a parliamentary session following the incident involving the evacuation of Malaysian flood victims who had been stranded in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province, during the severe flooding. The use of container trucks for the evacuation caused overcrowding and evoked imagery reminiscent of human trafficking.

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The large-scale flooding across several areas in southern Thailand has severely affected both local residents and tourists from various countries.

Photo: Pr.Songkhla

Hundreds of Malaysians were among those impacted by the disaster. In response, the Malaysian Foreign Minister decided to urgently evacuate its citizens using container trucks, which resulted in more than 700 people being transported in crowded conditions, creating scenes that resembled human trafficking.

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Later, a Member of Parliament from the Pakatan Harapan coalition questioned the Foreign Minister regarding the assistance for citizens stranded in Hat Yai. He explained that container trucks and buses had to be used because the roads were cut off, preventing smaller vehicles from passing through. This resulted in overcrowded evacuation conditions, and he apologized for the complaints that arose.

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The Foreign Minister added that the Malaysian authorities had been receiving situation updates every 3–4 hours from the Embassy of Malaysia in Thailand and the Consulate-General in Songkhla. As of yesterday’s report (27 Nov), fewer than 500 Malaysians were still awaiting evacuation.

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He also expressed gratitude to the Thai government for their coordination and cooperation, noting that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had been in continuous communication with Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul throughout the crisis. He added that Malaysia had also assisted in the evacuation of citizens from Brunei, Singapore, and Indonesia.

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SOURCE: Malay Mail

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Copywriter: Siam Associated Press (SAP) Editorial Department

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Source of material: official media /online news