Survey institutes pledge neutrality<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Responding to criticism by certain people over results of their
\nsurveys, which correctly predicted the top vote-getter in the
\nfirst round of the presidential election, pollsters pledged on
\nWednesday to strive for greater accuracy that would be immune
\nfrom outside interference.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) executive director
\nMuhammad Qodari said there was too much at stake for the
\npollsters if they decided to be biased in favor of certain
\npolitical parties or presidential candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Manipulation of public opinion constitutes a manipulation of
\nthe people's aspirations. We, as an organization, would naturally
\nface a dismal future if we knowingly published misleading
\nsurveys, as donors would no longer fund us and the public would
\nno longer trust us,\" Qodari said during a seminar here.<\/p>\n
Representatives from the LSI, the International Foundation for
\nElection System (IFES), the Central Statistics Bureau (BPS) and
\nthe Institute of Economics, Social Studies and Development
\n(LP3ES) also attended the seminar which was organized by the
\nInternational Observer Resource Center.<\/p>\n
LSI, IFES and LP3ES have found that most respondents
\nthroughout the country preferred Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri in the first round of voting as well as
\ntheir latest surveys for the Sept. 20 presidential election
\nrunoff.<\/p>\n
One rumor has it that LSI is \"close\" to Susilo because its
\nformer executive director, Denny J.A., has been seen speaking
\nwith Susilo at various functions. Denny relinquished his post
\nrecently and Qodari replaced him.<\/p>\n
IFES' Indonesia Project Manager Alan Wall said the partiality
\nallegation directed at the pollsters by some groups had been
\noverblown and tended to overstate the significance of the polling
\nresults.<\/p>\n
\"Survey results are just one more input that voters should be
\nable to consider. A voter should be able to see what the rest of
\nthe population thinks about the candidates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, managing director of the Polling Center, the local
\npartner of IFES, Yanti B. Sugarda said to prove her institution's
\nneutrality she would welcome any public scrutiny.<\/p>\n
\"We believe that we have applied scientific methodology and
\nyou are welcome to monitor every stage of any activity, and ...
\nyou can join our field workers who collect the data,\" she said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/survey-institutes-pledge-neutrality-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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