Thai govt hands out New Year gifts, but not everyone sees them as so - A special report by The Straits Times

A Japanese-style bar in Bangkok. Among the perks offered as "New Year's gifts" by the Thai govt are licence fee waivers for businesses selling alcohol and tobacco. - The Straits Times/ANN

BANGKOK, Jan 2 (The Straits Times/ANN): 'TIS the season of giving, as the colourful hampers of fruit and wine in supermarkets remind shoppers.

For Thais, the festive season is also associated with a different set of "gifts", such as fee waivers, subsidies, special improvement projects and other forms of government largesse.