Poll: 66% of public OK with govt measures to help poor

BANGKOK, July 18 (TNA) -- A poll conducted recently found that two-thirds-- 66 per cent -- of people throughout Thailand are satisfied with the government's new economic package containing six measures to assist low-income earners who have been hard hit by soaring oil prices.
Most measures will be implemented from August 1 and will initially last six months, but the reduction of the excise tax on oil will start July 25.
Sukhum Chaloeysap, director of Suan Dusit Poll, said the latest survey found that 66.75 per cent of respondents living in Bangkok were satisfied with the reduction of the excise tax on oil products.
In upcountry, 66.42 per cent of the respondents said they agreed with the government's decision to delay increase in prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used by household sector.
In general, 51.43 per cent of the total respondents nationwide are
optimistic that the measures, announced by the government Tuesday, would improve their daily life.
According to the poll, 45.38 per cent of the respondents believed that the six measures would only slightly relieve people's burden because they are short-lived.