7,800 poll teams to survey voters

The government will send 7,800 teams to conduct surveys nationwide to gauge the public’s feelings about a range of pressing issues ahead of the general election which is now expected to be delayed again until 2019.

Each tambon (sub-district) team will have 7-12 members, consisting of local officials, security personnel, academics and volunteers brought together under the “Tam Kwam Dee Duay Hua Jai” (Do good deeds by hearts) project.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the formation of a 61-member panel, dubbed “steering committee for development under sustainable Thai niyom (Thai-ism) projects” that had the endorsement of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.

The panel aims to make state agencies combine efforts and lift people’s living standards to achieve the goals set by the government’s 20-year national strategy.

Gen Prayut will head the committee with Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy prime minister and defence minister, as one of his deputies. “The new committee will ensure all efforts to improve the quality of life of people and their communities are realised,” the office said.

Under the plan, the prime minister, ministers, high-ranking officials, police and military brass will form a committee to oversee development projects. They will work with provincial governors, local officials such as district chiefs and community volunteers to ensure help reaches the people.

A district chief will appoint the tambon-level joint team.

Gen Prayut said 7,800 teams would be sent to find out about the problems people are facing in their areas. He learned about such a model from China’s development experience. However, some political observers have questioned the government’s move, saying it was politically motivated and meeting the people as proposed was in effect canvassing support for the regime.

Thai Niyom has been mentioned a few times by Gen Prayut, who used the term “Thai-style democracy”. He said it is based on democratic principles favoured by Western countries.