King's birthday is happiest moment for Thais : Survey
Play
This year's happiest moments shared by Thais was the national celebration of His Majesty the King's 84th birthday on December 5 and his recovery from illness, while the flood crisis provided the unhappiest news of the year, according to an opinion poll r
The Bangkok Unviersity Poll’s surveying, “The Most in 2011,” found that 55.1 per cent of the respondents, voted for the monarch’s birthday celebrations and his recovery as bringing their greatest joy in 2011.
The poll was conducted by the Bangkok Poll Centre on 1,113 persons aged over 18 in provinces nationwide between December 21 and 25.
Meanwhile 87.4 per cent of respondents said their unhappiest news was the flood crisis and the massive damage from the severe inundations, while 68.1 per cent said the news that appealed the most was flood crisis coverage and related reports on responses and rehabilitation.
Soldiers who provided tireless assistance to flood victims won much praise from 47.2 per cent of respondents.
Yingluck Shinawatra government was rated the most upsetting group of persons by 31.5 per cent of the respondents, followed by Thai politicians with 19.9 per cent and the government-run Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) with 8.6 per cent.
Some 42 per cent of those respondents however voted Prime Minister Yingluck as their most favourite politician, while opposition Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva got the approval of 28.3 per cent of those surveyed.
Listed as the most desired New Year's present, 18.2 per cent said they wanted the government to improve the economy, and to reduce the cost of living and consumer product prices.
Regarding sports, 31.6 per cent voted volleyball as the most outstanding sport while football was shunned as worst performing in 2011 for 85.5 per cent of those polled.
