Law on statistics passed with significant changes<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The bill on statistics was passed yesterday with
\nsignificant changes, giving researchers and private pollsters
\ngreater access to statistical information.<\/p>\n
The final version of the government-sponsored bill, submitted
\nto the House of Representatives in December, says that
\nresearchers and private-owned institutions that hold polls will
\nonly need to make general reports to the Board afterward.<\/p>\n
Previously, the bill stipulated that researchers and private
\npollsters solicit the Statistic Central Board's permit before
\nconducting any polls.<\/p>\n
The changes ensured less bureaucracy, according to State
\nMinister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita
\nduring the House's plenary session to endorse the bill.<\/p>\n
\"The (law) won't curtail any rights of the (institutions) that
\nconduct statistical activities,\" he told the session presided
\nover by J.A. Katili of the Golkar faction.<\/p>\n
The bill was previously criticized for striving to regulate
\nvarious kinds of polling activities, including those by
\nresearchers.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said the newly-passed law would help people gain
\naccess to statistic information.<\/p>\n
The document is a revision of the laws on census and on
\nstatistics. It also changed the name of the Central Bureau of
\nStatistics to the Statistics' Central Board.<\/p>\n
Ginandjar said \"the law will not only simplify the access to
\ninformation sources at the Statistic Central Board, but also
\nencourage statistical activities by survey and research by
\nprivate companies\".<\/p>\n
The new law also stipulates that researchers will not have to
\nreport to the Board if the results of their statistical research
\nare to be used for their own purposes.<\/p>\n
Research company, Surindo, welcomed the new law, especially
\nthe section on research activities.<\/p>\n
\"That means the control from the board over statistical
\nactivities will not be as tight as before,\" said Ricardi S.
\nAdnan, marketing manager of Surindo.<\/p>\n
The new law also guarantees the right to access statistical
\ninformation. It also regulates the rights and responsibilities of
\nstatistic activists and the respondents.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) told
\nthe House that the agreement on research emphasizes that
\nthe Statistical Board is not an agency which issues permits for
\nstatistical research. (12)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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