A majority of people think it is now necessary for the government to review its populist policies, including the rice-pledging scheme, according to the results of an Abac Poll survey published on Sunday.
The poll was conducted on 2,156 people between June 3 and 8 in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Samut Prakan, Phayao, Phetchabun, Chiang Mai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Surin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chumphon, Trang and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The poll was intended to gauge the people's opinion on six major "hot issues" in the country.
On a call by academics for the government to review its populist policies including the rice-pledging scheme, free water and electricity, free bus and train rides, and the first-car buyers' scheme, the majority or 56.8% of the respondents agreed, 23.8% did not see any necessity to do so, and 19.4% had no comment.
On whether the government should appeal the Central Administrative Court's order for it to reinstate Thawil Pliensri as secretary-general of the National Security Council (NSC), 31.9% said the government should not appeal, 16.5% were of the opinion that it should, and the majority or 51.6% had no comment.
Asked which was more credible - the Bank of Thailand or the government - in solving the country's economic problems, 37.7% said the BoT holds higher credibility, 15.8% favoured the government, 26.9% said both are equally reliable, and 19.6% had no comment.
On the conflict between the public health minister and rural doctors over the P4P scheme, 45.7% were afraid it could lead to changes to public health policies and affect the welfare of the people, 26.6% were not worried by the problem and 27.7% had no comment.
On the credibility of the Constitution Court, against which the red shirts have campaigned, 57.8% said they still had faith in the court, 19.6% said the court was no longer credible, and 22.6% had no comment.
On activities of the white and red masked people against and in support of the government, 47.6% disagreed with both groups for fear they could cause chaos and violence that affects their daily life, 29.9% said the activities are democratic and concern rights and liberties of the people, and 22.5% had no comment.