House passes law on science, technology development
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House of Representatives (DPR) on Monday passed the bill on a national system of the scientific and technological research, development and application into law, encouraging efforts to achieve integrated advancements in the scientific and technological fields.
The law gained political support from a majority of 330 legislators who attended a plenary session presided over by House Deputy Speaker Tosari Wijaya here on Monday.
The bill, consisting of nine chapters and 32 articles regulates that all scientific and technological institutions, primarily universities, institutes, research centers and industries should cooperate to help improve the nation's competitiveness on the international level and to enhance the people's social welfare as well.
According to the law, scientific and technological institutions are obliged to organize the provision of human resources and research as well as the creation of a conducive climate needed to master science and technology and to develop them. Research centers have their function to make inventions and innovations in science and technology while industries are obliged to utilize the inventions to produce goods and services to meet the market's demands
However, some articles in the bill were not applicable since they require supporting regulations to execute.
Responding to this, deputy House speaker Tosari Widjaja suggested that the government would soon make some new regulations to complement the law.
"The new law should be equipped with supporting regulations," Tosari told the plenary meeting.
Meanwhile, Minister of Research and Technology Hatta Rajasa said some articles that needed elaboration will be explained on supporting regulations that would be issued later.
"The additional regulations will be completed within six months," Hatta said.
He added that in line with the law, the government was obliged to allocate a certain portion of the annual state budget to finance all activities related to the research and training programs to improve the quality of human resources in institutes and research centers.
Hatta emphasized that the government would not make strict regulations that discouraged people from carrying out research. "We will welcome input from all sectors in society," he added.
The minister said he hoped the new law would improve coordination among universities, research centers and state companies to create the independence which will encourage great achievements from local scientists and increase the level of the nation's self-esteem.
Key articles in the new law
Article 22 (1): The government guarantees the interests of society, the nation, and the state as well as the harmony between human beings and the environment.
Article 22 (2): Regarding the above, the government will administer all licenses for research, development and implementation of science and technology which is deemed high- risk and hazardous by national and international standards.
Article 29: Violations of the license as stipulated in article 22 carry administrative penalties, from warnings, to termination of research and finally a revocation of the license.
Article 30 (1): An individual or institution that commits violations as stipulated in article 22 without a license faces six months imprisonment or a Rp 50 million fine.
Article 30 (2): Anyone that commits violations as stipulated in article 22 and endangers human safety, society's health, environmental conservation, social harmony or national integrity, faces criminal penalties or fines in accordance with further laws.