As for the ways to make money politics in this state-capture period, some old means
remain, such as gate keeping, commission fees, turning state power to advantage of
self and friends. But many innovative tactics have appeared.
One of the tactics which have become more pronounced is what Dr Prawes Wasi
called ‘policy corruption’.4 The government under PM Thaksin contains many big
tycoons-turned-politicians or their proxies. Although the Thaksin government made a
name for itself for winning its first election in 2001 on grounds of its innovative
policy platform, it also pursued many policies aiming to benefit family businesses of
the politicians and their friends.