Malaysians driving to Thailand urged to get third-party insurance
SONGKHLA: Malaysians driving into Thailand are advised to obtain insurance coverage that includes third-party claims in the event of a road accident in the country.
Malaysians planning to drive into Thailand are being urged to secure third-party insurance coverage for potential road accidents, according to the Malaysian Consul-General in Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi. The consul-general emphasized the importance of such insurance in cases where a Malaysian driver is responsible for an accident causing injury or death, potentially leading to substantial compensation payments beyond the penalties imposed on the offender.
Compensation costs in such accidents can be significant, and Malaysians without adequate insurance coverage might struggle to meet these financial obligations, Fahmi explained during a courtesy call with a delegation from the Perlis Journalists Association at the Consulate-General in Songkhla on October 2. The consul-general noted that some Malaysian drivers involved in accidents in Thailand lacked sufficient funds to pay compensation to victims, as they only had insurance coverage for hospital medical costs.
In addition to third-party insurance, Fahmi advised Malaysians visiting Thailand to obtain coverage for vehicle damage caused by natural disasters. He also cautioned against traveling at night, especially in high-risk areas such as Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat, due to recent security incidents in those southern Thai provinces. To enhance safety, Fahmi recommended using Apple Maps or Google Maps for navigation in southern Thailand, suggesting that these services are safer compared to Waze, which may direct travelers through potentially hazardous shortcuts into villages and hilly areas.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
