logo
Malaysians flock to Thailand, unfazed by unrest, political crisis and disease risk

Malaysians flock to Thailand, unfazed by unrest, political crisis and disease risk

Thailand remains a top holiday destination for Malaysians despite the country's latest political crisis.
The
suspension of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra coupled with ongoing violence in some of the country's southern provinces and a surge in respiratory illnesses are unlikely to deter Malaysians.
Hat Yai, a city close to the border with Kedah state, remains a favourite for a quick break.
Executive Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop, 38, is planning a weekend trip there with her family despite the country's troubles.
'I'm not worried at all. In fact, we're heading to Hat Yai this weekend for a short family vacation,' she said.
She said she would avoid the so-called Deep South – the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla – where violence linked to a decades-long insurgency has increased.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How powerful is Thailand's constitutional court? PM's suspension reignites influence debate
How powerful is Thailand's constitutional court? PM's suspension reignites influence debate

South China Morning Post

time15 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

How powerful is Thailand's constitutional court? PM's suspension reignites influence debate

The suspension of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has reignited debate over the Constitutional Court's growing influence in Thailand 's democratic system, amid concerns electoral mandates risk being curtailed by judicial and conservative power centres. While the court's decision on Tuesday to suspend Paetongtarn over a leaked phone call with Cambodia 's former leader Hun Sen was framed as a procedural response to an ethics complaint, observers say it fits into a broader trend of interventions that have reshaped Thailand's political landscape in recent years. Rawin Leelapatana, assistant professor at Chulalongkorn University's law faculty, told This Week in Asia that Paetongtarn's case marked the resurgence of 'judicial activism' following the dissolution of the Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in the 2023 election. It was dissolved by the Constitutional Court in 2024 over its push to reform Thailand's royal defamation law. 'The intervention of the Constitutional Court in … politics remains likely in the future,' he said. 04:40 Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call Thai court suspends PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra over leaked phone call The court has not yet ruled on whether Paetongtarn violated ethical standards, but accepted a petition from 36 senators who allege she brought disrepute to the office by referring to Hun Sen as 'uncle' and criticising a top Thai military commander – during a June 15 phone call that was leaked to the public.

Malaysians flock to Thailand, unfazed by unrest, political crisis and disease risk
Malaysians flock to Thailand, unfazed by unrest, political crisis and disease risk

South China Morning Post

timea day ago

  • South China Morning Post

Malaysians flock to Thailand, unfazed by unrest, political crisis and disease risk

Thailand remains a top holiday destination for Malaysians despite the country's latest political crisis. The suspension of Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra coupled with ongoing violence in some of the country's southern provinces and a surge in respiratory illnesses are unlikely to deter Malaysians. Hat Yai, a city close to the border with Kedah state, remains a favourite for a quick break. Executive Erma Idayu Mohd Yusop, 38, is planning a weekend trip there with her family despite the country's troubles. 'I'm not worried at all. In fact, we're heading to Hat Yai this weekend for a short family vacation,' she said. She said she would avoid the so-called Deep South – the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and parts of Songkhla – where violence linked to a decades-long insurgency has increased.

Heading to Japan? How Hongkongers can prepare amid earthquake concerns
Heading to Japan? How Hongkongers can prepare amid earthquake concerns

South China Morning Post

timea day ago

  • South China Morning Post

Heading to Japan? How Hongkongers can prepare amid earthquake concerns

Recent rumours about a 'megaquake' hitting Japan on July 5, stemming from a manga artist whose earlier prediction in 2011 reportedly came true, have caused some concern among Hong Kong residents planning to travel to the country this month. Advertisement While Japanese authorities have dismissed the claims, stating that earthquakes cannot be predicted with current scientific knowledge and can occur anywhere at any time, even outside Japan, the Post has gathered expert advice for travellers on how to cope should an earthquake hit. 1. How do I prepare for an earthquake? The Hong Kong Observatory recommends that travellers download earthquake warning applications. The Japan National Tourism Organisation offers an app called 'Safety Tips', which provides push notifications for early earthquake warnings in English, Chinese and other languages, along with general safety advice. The 'Safety Tips' app is available on Apple and Android devices. For accidents and emergencies in Japan, tourists can call 050-3816-2787 for help in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. Hongkongers overseas requiring help can visit the hotline information site Advertisement Additionally, travellers should ask their hotels or residences about emergency escape routes in case of an earthquake.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store