PETALING JAYA: Several students and lecturers from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) who were stranded in the Hat Yai floods have been successfully rescued, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
In a Facebook post on Thursday (Nov 27), the Higher Education Minister said the group, comprising 36 students and two lecturers, is now safe and will be moved to a temporary accommodation centre before arrangements are made to bring them back to Malaysia.
“I express my deepest appreciation and thanks to the Foreign Ministry, Embassy of Malaysia in Thailand, Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla, Thai authorities, local rescue teams and UUM management for their effective coordination, which ensured the rescue operation was carried out safely and in an orderly manner,” he said.
The group had been trapped at the Wangburapa Grand Hotel since Nov 22.
On Wednesday (Nov 26), the Foreign Ministry said that it has activated its Operations Room in Putrajaya (+603-8887 4570) to strengthen coordination and ensure continued assistance for Malaysians affected by the floods in Hat Yai and surrounding districts.
Malaysians in affected areas who are unable to reach the Consulate General of Malaysia in Songkhla and the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok are advised to directly contact the ministry’s Operations Room for assistance.
*The Star is verifying the number of lecturers with the Higher Education Ministry, as the latest figure does not tally with past reports.
