Few know about 'Strong Thailand'

Published: 3/10/2009 at 03:52 PM
Online news: Economics

Less than half of the respondents knew about the Thai Khem Kaeng (Strong Thailand) economic stimulus scheme of the government, Suan Dusit poll at Rajabhat Suan Dusit University concluded on Saturday.

The pollsters asked 3,279 people in 37 provinces on how they think about the strong Thailand plan on Sep 30 to Oct 2.

The poll-maker found that only 41.17 per cent of them learned about the government’s scheme through various media, 26.99 per cent said they no little about the project, 18.30 per cent said they knew because they got involved in the plan, and 13.54 per cent had no idea about it.

Asked about opinions about the project, 35.77 per cent of the respondents said it would be beneficial for the country, 22.08 per cent thought it would be a distribution of benefit to the people, and 18.69 per cent said it would help shore up the economy.

Regarding weak points of the project, 50.17 per cent of them were concerned about the project’s transparency and corruption problems, 26.05 per cent worried that the local politicians would seek interest from it, and 9.94 per cent felt the project has not served the real needs of the people.

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boonyadech

Discussion 5 : 09/10/2009 at 06:56 AM5
I tend to agree with opinion/discussion 1. Strong Thailand Projects should be clearly spelled out in terms of Project Management, goal setting and results measurement: SMART Goals. Most private/business sectors are doing just this to ensure effectiveness.
Chiangmai Skipper

Discussion 4 : 07/10/2009 at 02:10 AM4
I,too,have never read anything about "Strong Thailand" but it sure sounds tough . . .Grrr! Just give it a fancy sounding title, front or image and that wil suffice. This is,after all, the land is image over substance and efficiancy.
wantmymoney

Discussion 3 : 03/10/2009 at 09:56 PM3
That Strong Thai stimulus plan will come back and haunt demoratic party, abhisit will like be sued and its minister ban from politics. Nobody knows who actually benefit because there is no feedback no record to show the results. Like all thai policies vague and doesnt benefit its intended target. Its just another money wasting exercise
charlie

Discussion 2 : 03/10/2009 at 06:51 PM2
Never heard of it
Bubba

Discussion 1 : 03/10/2009 at 04:51 PM1
I find the Strong Thailand scheme rather vague, possibly because I do not know enough about it. It seems to refer to stimulating eco-oriented plans that might eventually lead to eco-tourism. Sounds far fetched to me.

In and of itself concentrating on saving the environment must be a good thing but should it not look more closely at how big business is destroying the environment.

How much of Thailand's forest have not already been destroyed?

I believe since the 1940's Thailand has lost about 80% of its forests.

Of course a lot of that land has been cleared not only for wood but for agriculture, but...who benefits from that? A study should be done to see exactly who has benefitted from this clearing away of forests for agricultural purposes.

Also, it is the poor Issan and north that are the worst off. I believe trying to speak about eco-tourism is pretty ridiculous.

It is estimated only 2% of all visitors to Thailand visit the north or Issan. So who, again would benefit from this?

The rest of the scheme I am too unfamiliar with but again, with corruption such a major part of Thai politics it is no wonder people are not well informed. The less well informed they are the easier for corrupt politicians to skim from the pot.

Few know about 'Strong Thailand'