Malaysian travelers eager to enjoy the beauty of Thailand's island regions are cautioned not to be deceived by the sweet words of tourism operators in the country who are willing to risk the lives of others for their own gains.
Based on a tweet from the @traveljimat Twitter account, boat operators in Thailand pay little attention to rough sea conditions, especially during the monsoon season, solely to maximize returns by bringing tourists to visit island areas.
Bot pelancong karam dekat laut Thailand. Hati hati kalau nak pergi pulau kat area Thailand. Dia orang semua 'can sir' 'can sir' walaupun ombak besar. Sebab tu Langkawi stop operasi fery pergi ke Koh Lipe musim monsun.
— Travel Jimat (@TravelJimat) December 29, 2023
Jangan lupa follow TT traveljimat https://t.co/82rbCXfW4W pic.twitter.com/009rmjUiU7
"Be careful if you want to go to the islands in Thailand. Their people say 'can sir' 'can sir' even in big waves," the tweet warns, accompanied by a recording of a recent incident where a boat carrying tourists capsized.
In an incident that occurred last Sunday, a speeding boat carrying 73 foreign tourists and four crew members overturned while sailing from Ko Lipe to Ko Lanta, Krabi, Thailand.
The boat operator continued the journey despite adverse weather conditions.
According to reports, at the beginning of the incident, the boat's captain was accused of speeding despite facing strong waves. Around 10:10 am, rescue teams were informed that the boat, named Bundhaya 19, had capsized near Bu Bu Island, Thailand.
The Thai navy promptly dispatched a rescue boat and six safety officers to assist in rescuing the affected passengers. Shortly afterward, another speedboat, Ploy Siam 559, successfully rescued all 73 passengers, including 70 adults and three children, along with four crew members.
Meanwhile, a third speedboat, Fazia Hana 9, helped transport the victims' luggage, and all were safely taken to their destination on Ko Lanta Island.
This incident resulted in several passengers suffering injuries after falling from the boat they were on.
It is crucial to note that while such incidents are happening in Thailand, Malaysia's seas are also facing similar conditions, with massive waves and other challenges. Therefore, travelers are advised to exercise caution when visiting beachside areas in Malaysia as well.
