Poll: Thai public sees government's performance ratings as rising

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BANGKOK, Dec 28 - A new countrywide opinion survey indicates that the Thai public are more satisfied with the government's performance following the Abhisit administration's two years in office.

The Suan Dusit Poll was conducted Dec 10 through 27 by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University's Suan Dusit Poll by interviewing 6,546 Thai residents nationwide about the government's performance this year.

Out of a possible rating of ten, on a scale of 1 to 10, the overall score was at 6.36 for this administration, a rise of 0.35 points compared to its performance on the same period last year.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva registered 7.43 points, a 0.24 point increase from last year. His personal performance also scored an extra 0.47 points to rise to 6.80.

The Cabinet's assessment rose to 6.38, gaining 0.23 points over that of last year, for its determination of its work.

Meanwhile, the five ministries achieving the highest scores were Education receiving 7.33, a rise of 0.59 points, Social Development and Human Security 7.14, earning 0.63 more, while Public Health received 7.02, up 0.64 points, Tourism and Sports 6.57, or an extra 0.15 points, and Agriculture and Cooperatives 6.54, or 0.29 more points.

The government's best five projects in the past two years respectively were a 15-year free education programme, state welfare for the elderly, underprivileged people and the handicapped, economic stimulation measures and the solution to informal debts (debts obtained outside the financial system), including crop price guarantee and agriculture promotion, as well as health services.

Vice versa, the respondents were dissatisfied with the government's performance in tackling corruption, solving economic problems such as the rising cost of consumer products and high cost of living. In addition, other issues fared worst among government performance in 2010 are the meddling in judicial system, handling foreign policy with Cambodia in particular over the Preah Vihear border dispute, and pay rise for senators, Members of Parliament, and Sub-District Administration Organisation officials. (MCOT online news)