Thanksin said it himself that he admired how Dr M managed malaysia. And Malaysia itself is now divided between rural and urban.
You see, UMNO derives its power from rural malay voters. And the only way they can get this is by pumping huge benefits to them. Thaksin did the same.
The rest, as they say, is history. Once you get this benefits, not easy to let go. So for both Thailand and Malaysia, the only way to power is by pumping in even more assistance to the rural mainly agriculture and rice growing areas. If you neglect the rural voters, you will never control the country. This is something the opposition in these two countries must learn to live with.