Almost everyone believes the problems with the rice pledging programme have eroded people's confidence in the government, according to survey results released on Saturday by Suan Dusit Poll.
The pollsters at Suan Dusit Rajabhat University surveyed 1,302 people between July 9 and 12 to gauge their views on recent news reports and on the government.
Topping the list of most-followed stories was that of the disgraced millionaire monk Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko, mentioned by 97.4% of respondents. Next came the rice scheme (95.45%), followed by the peace talks with the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (90.3%), and the government's 350-billion-baht water projects (87%).
Also attracting widespread attention with 85% of responses was the recording claimed to be of a conversation between fugitive former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Deputy Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapa.
Asked which developments had hurt confidence in the government the most, 97.5% of those polled mentioned the rice scheme, followed by the water projects (91.4%), southern unrest (88.2%), the audio clip (86.8%) and Nen Kham (77.9%), the pollsters said.
Asked which reports concerned them the most personally, 95.4% pointed to the rice scheme, 93% mentioned southern peace talks, 86.75% mentioned the water projects, 88.1% the millionaire monk, and 81.1% said the audio clip.
The pollsters also asked respondents which "new" cabinet ministers they wanted to give moral support to, and 95.5% mentioned Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra because she has also taken up the Defence portfolio.
The respondents said Ms Yingluck already was facing strong criticism in light of the audio clip reported to involve her brother. They also expressed hope she could settle the problem of southern violence.
Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung took second place, with support from 61.8% of respondents, followed by Commerce Minister Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan (55.28%), Social Development and Human Security Minister Paveena Hongsakula (48.78%) and Education Minister Chaturon Chaisaeng (42.28%).