'Don't intervere with BPS operations'

'Don't intervere with BPS operations'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono warned government institutions here yesterday not to interfere with the independence of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in fixing its data.

"No parties are allowed to influence the data recorded by the statistic bureau, which guarantees the objectivity and credibility of its works," Moerdiono said in his address at the opening of BPS's national congress.

Moerdino's remarks came amid concerns over the credibility of BPS and its economic data, especially figures related to inflation rates.

The inflation rate dropped to 9.24 percent in 1994 from 9.77 percent in 1993, but critics said that the figures for those two years were tailored to meet the government's commitment to keep the inflation rate under 10 percent.

Moerdiono said in his address yesterday that misleading data could jeopardize the government's development strategies, many of which are formulated with BPS data.

BPS, which is overseen by the State Secretariat, should be able to provide reliable and accurate data for the public, he added.

"BPS data should reflect the facts and false data could create wrong interpretations," he said, adding that manipulated data could be fatal to the country's economic and social development.

The BPS chairman, Soegianto, acknowledged that the agency still faces difficulties in maintaining the fairness of its data, partly due to the lack of coordination with other government institutions.

Soegianto also acknowledged that a number of government offices still do not really respect the position of his agency as the official data collector.

"It is, therefore, necessary to restate the position of the agency as an independent data collector," he said, adding that the issuance of statistical data by other government institutions only confuses people. (hen)