Law on statistics passed with significant changes

JAKARTA (JP): The bill on statistics was passed yesterday with significant changes, giving researchers and private pollsters greater access to statistical information.

The final version of the government-sponsored bill, submitted to the House of Representatives in December, says that researchers and private-owned institutions that hold polls will only need to make general reports to the Board afterward.

Previously, the bill stipulated that researchers and private pollsters solicit the Statistic Central Board's permit before conducting any polls.

The changes ensured less bureaucracy, according to State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita during the House's plenary session to endorse the bill.

"The (law) won't curtail any rights of the (institutions) that conduct statistical activities," he told the session presided over by J.A. Katili of the Golkar faction.

The bill was previously criticized for striving to regulate various kinds of polling activities, including those by researchers.

Ginandjar said the newly-passed law would help people gain access to statistic information.

The document is a revision of the laws on census and on statistics. It also changed the name of the Central Bureau of Statistics to the Statistics' Central Board.

Ginandjar said "the law will not only simplify the access to information sources at the Statistic Central Board, but also encourage statistical activities by survey and research by private companies".

The new law also stipulates that researchers will not have to report to the Board if the results of their statistical research are to be used for their own purposes.

Research company, Surindo, welcomed the new law, especially the section on research activities.

"That means the control from the board over statistical activities will not be as tight as before," said Ricardi S. Adnan, marketing manager of Surindo.

The new law also guarantees the right to access statistical information. It also regulates the rights and responsibilities of statistic activists and the respondents.

A spokesperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) told the House that the agreement on research emphasizes that the Statistical Board is not an agency which issues permits for statistical research. (12)