"Bread and butter" issues top the wish lists of Thai people who seek help from the new government, followed by narcotics control and better education for poor people, according to public opinion surveyed from August 10 to 16 by the Super Poll.
The poll questioned their perception about the performance of the previous military government and what they want from the new one.
More than 75% of 1,082 respondents said they want the government to reduce the cost of living and increase salary and earnings, Asst Prof Noppadon Kannika, managing director of the Super Poll, said.
Over 5% of respondents want the government to do away with narcotics, 3% of interviewed subjects said they want to see better education given to poor people, 2% wished for better health care, 2% for better public safety and 10% want to see the government combat problems such as farm price, natural disaster, drought, flood and tax problems.
Asst Prof Noppadon said 80% of respondents are "satisfied" with works of the previous military-appointed governments. They lauded projects initiated by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha such as railway and motorway constructions and airport expansions as "tangible".
Only 19% of respondents said the previous government achieved none.
On transparency issues, 68% said they believed that government with a clean image can serve the public interest better, while the rest of respondents said a government with politicians that have a record of being involved in corruption can work better for the public.
“Yet one-third is enough for misleading society, especially when people are suffering from their living costs. The government must respond to their needs to avoid being blamed,” Asst Prof Noppadon said.