Bangkok: Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the Democrat Party, has extended words of encouragement to the people of Hat Yai, urging for collective efforts in the city’s recovery and emphasizing the critical need to ‘not forget Hat Yai.’ He highlighted two urgent measures: restoring purchasing power and building confidence within the community.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Abhisit led a delegation to Songkhla province, visiting and encouraging residents, students, government officials, and private sector representatives in Hat Yai. He lauded the resilient spirit of Thai society and called for immediate cooperation among all sectors to expedite the city’s recovery.
Mr. Abhisit expressed concern over the current political vacuum, which has led to delays in small-scale assistance and initiatives, particularly those requiring approval, such as support for schools and sub-district administrative organizations. “It’s time to revive everything and get things done. Right now, for us, it’s a vacuum. Today, we can’t even bring anything to school because the parliament has been dissolved, and we’re in the middle of the local elections. Everyone says we can do very little,” he stated.
He also highlighted the national focus on border issues, urging people to remember the challenges faced by Hat Yai. Sharing a story from Surin, he noted the empathy shown by evacuees there for Hat Yai residents who had lost their homes. Mr. Abhisit proposed two immediate measures to foster cooperation and revitalize Hat Yai and the southern region. First, he urged the Election Commission to expedite government funding approvals for recovery and relief without political considerations. “Whatever the government wants to do to revive this area, the Election Commission should approve it. Don’t worry too much about whether it will affect the election’s advantages or disadvantages,” he urged.
Secondly, he advocated for a limited-area “Half-Price Scheme Phase 2,” suggesting that this initiative be confined to the affected areas in Hat Yai and the southern border provinces to quickly boost purchasing power and stimulate the local economy. Mr. Abhisit also cautioned against misinterpreting terms like “300-year rain” or “1,000-year rain,” emphasizing the need to address urban development issues that impede drainage. He called for a collaborative approach to learn from this event, focusing on building a more resilient urban system for the future.
He proposed the formation of an independent academic committee to analyze lessons learned, not to assign blame, but to improve the system for the future. This includes enhancing the warning system, communication, and operational integration to ensure efficient disaster prevention and mitigation. “Even if we can fully restore everything, if we face similar conditions next year, it will be difficult to ensure people are willing to stay here and invest here,” Mr. Abhisit warned, underlining the importance of future-focused recovery strategies.