Public concern over illegally operated foreign businesses in Thailand is increasingly centred on the role of corrupt officials, according to a nationwide Nida Poll released on Sunday.
The survey found that 67.10% of respondents believed dishonest state officials were the main reason foreign nationals could run businesses unlawfully, either directly or through Thai nominees acting on their behalf.
Weak penalties were identified as the second-largest factor, cited by 59.31% of those surveyed. Legal loopholes followed at 52.21%, while 50.46% blamed corrupt politicians for allowing the problem to continue.
Almost half of respondents, or 48.70%, also pointed to Thai nationals who cooperate with foreigners for financial gain. A further 44.35% said officials who deliberately overlook offences committed by foreign nationals were partly responsible.
The National Institute of Development Administration questioned 1,310 people aged 18 and above across Thailand between Monday and Wednesday. Participants were permitted to select more than one response.
The poll was carried out amid renewed scrutiny of alleged schemes involving Chinese babies obtaining Thai citizenship. Authorities suspect that corrupt officials, hospital workers and Thai men falsely claiming to be the biological fathers may have helped facilitate the process.
Law enforcement agencies have also recently uncovered several businesses of varying sizes that were controlled by foreign nationals but officially registered under Thai nominees.
Many of the operations were located in major cities and popular tourist destinations, where authorities have intensified inspections of business ownership structures and licensing arrangements.
The findings suggest that many members of the public believe stronger enforcement, tougher penalties and greater accountability among officials are needed to prevent foreign investors from bypassing Thai laws.
