BPS defends statistics bill to regulate surveys

JAKARTA (JP): The Chairman of the National Statistics Agency (BPS), Sugito, yesterday defended the government-sponsored draft law on statistics and said it would not restrict surveying activities.

The proposed law would require private institutions and individuals to report if they intend to conduct a survey, he said.

"They will only be required to report, not to seek an approval from BPS as many people have feared," he was quoted by Antara as saying, responding to growing controversy about Article 15 of the draft law.

Although the draft law has not yet been submitted to the House of Representatives, it has drawn sharp criticism from the public, especially from private companies and individuals that would have to report any plans to gather statistical data to BPS.

Critics said the government-sponsored bill is meant to curb unauthorized polling and surveying about the results of next May's general elections.

The fear is understandable because the government recently asked the House to see that the law was in place at least one month before the election.

Under the proposed law, government agencies will also be required to inform BPS if they want to carry out surveys.

However, private or government institutions making surveys for internal purposes, or for educational and scientific development, will not be required to report.

"Government agencies are also required to report. This is important to avoid overlapping," Sugito said.

He said the requirement to report surveying plans did not mean the government would restrict surveying activities.

However, Sugito acknowledged that surveyors would not be asked to report only survey plans but also to disclose the purpose of the study and their data gathering methods.

He said individuals and private institutions that did not report their survey activities would face a maximum fine of Rp 25 million (US$10,600) or one year jail.

The current statistics law, which was enacted in 1960, is no longer adequate to meet the rapid changes in statistical activities, he said. (hen)