Hat Yai city was hit by major floods, leaving many Malaysians trapped in hotels waiting for rescue. It was reported online that a hotel pursued stuck Malaysian guests for extra room fees during their extended stay, which sparked debate among netizens.
Mqz Biketowing shared a video on Facebook, writing, “The water has risen, and we’re being asked for hotel room fees.”
Footage from the video shows two individuals believed to be hotel staff surrounded by a group of Malaysian guests discussing the issue. Among them, some guests requested the hotel staff to inform the hotel owner so that the owner could talk directly with the guests. The staff member replied that the owner had already been notified.
An unhappy woman can be heard saying, “Tell your boss to call the police or the army to come and arrest us.” After a round of negotiations, the male staff member simply said, “You don’t want to pay, right?”, before walking away.
However, the video in question does not fully present the entire story, showing only part of the process.
The video caused controversy among netizens, with most believing that guests stranded in hotels should still pay for their rooms.
Netizen YK commented, “Floods aren’t the hotel’s fault. If you don’t want to pay, then pack your bags and leave. You can’t just stay for free! They’re running a business, not charity. If you don’t want to pay the full amount, at least negotiate for half price.”
Azhar Rosazmi wrote, “If we are stranded and still staying in the hotel and using its facilities, then we should pay. We should be responsible for what we do. If you don’t want to pay, just leave, swim to somewhere else offering shelter.”
Meanwhile, netizen Kelvin Ting shared, “Many people are angry seeing the hotel charging trapped guests for their room, but under Thai law, unless a place has been officially declared as force majeure (such as a lockdown), only then are you exempt from paying any room fees and charges, and the hotel must provide assistance until guests are safely evacuated. During an official lockdown, anyone who booked during that period is entitled to a full refund.”
“Hat Yai was only officially locked down on November 25th, so you can’t blame the hotel staff for suddenly coming to collect room fees. They’re just employees; ultimately, it’s up to the owner. In such a case, you can request help from the police and the Malaysian consulate in Songkhla. Don’t let this video influence your perception of Thailand. It’s all about human nature, and this issue has nothing to do with anyone’s ethnicity, nationality, or religion.”
Of course, some netizens expressed opposing views. Netizen Poh BT pointed out, “If the owner confirmed safety and no risk of flooding at check-in, then the hotel bears full responsibility.”
Some netizens also called for a boycott of the hotel!