STEER CLEAR OF BANGKOK HOTSPOTS

Monday May 17, 2010

Steer clear of Bangkok hotspots, Malaysians advised

By SHAUN HO
newsdesk@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Malaysians have been told to avoid hotspots occupied by the Red Shirt protestors in Bangkok, although no travel advisory has been issued yet by Wisma Putra.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman reminded travellers to avoid Ratchaprasong Intersection and its surrounding areas when violence flared up again after the military began a lockdown on Red Shirt occupied areas in the Thai capital.

“The Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok remains open and unaffected by the incident.

“However, the Tourism Malaysia office is closed until further notice due to its closeness to the affected area,” Anifah said in a statement yesterday.

Bernama reported that the Malaysian Embassy in Bangkok would not be evacuating Malaysians as the current situation there did not require it yet.

Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Datuk Husni Zai Yaacob said a contingency plan had been prepared but the situation was still under control.

“There is no anarchy and there is no outbreak of hostilities at the moment,” he said.

Husni said the clashes between troops and anti-government protesters, which left 24 people dead and 200 injured thus far, were concentrated in certain areas.

He said other provinces were unaffected, adding that people could still go out and buy their groceries.