July 19, 2009
ASTV Manager Online (Bangkok) – 61.13 percent of Thai people said profitable state enterprises should be privatized, according to Rangsit University’s opinion poll.
1,402 respondents were surveyed.
High-income earners with good educational background and working status tended to support state enterprises’ restructuring, reform and privatization.
However, many respondents viewed the privatization as national assets selling.
45.5 percent of respondents said the private sector should receive concession to jointly develop the state enterprises facing losses.
31.6 percent thought that state enterprises should improve themselves in terms of efficiency, and 37.1 percent said corruption was the main factor for their losses.
Thailand’s major losers were Bangkok Mass Transit System (BMTA), Thai Airways International and TOT Corporation Plc.
15.5 percent understood that privatization meant allowing the private companies to jointly develop state enterprises.
Several respondents were uncertain that the privatization would be transparent and based on corporate governance.
