Critics doubt BPS statistics

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 07/02/2009 7:00 PM  |  National

Opponents of incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono doubt the credibility of data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) which claims a 2.43 million decline in the number of poor people between March 2008 and March 2009.

"This decline in the poverty rate is artificial. The BPS took into account temporary subsidy programs like direct cash aid [BLT program]. The poor that receive subsidies will climb up the economic ladder, but only temporarily," a member of Jusuf Kalla's campaign team, Dradjad Wibowo, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

"The credibility of the BPS is in question because its methods don’t reflect the actual situation."

Maruarar Sirait from Megawati Sukarnoputri's campaign team suspects political motives were behind the BPS report.

"Why did the BPS announce the research nearing the presidential election?" he said.

Syarief Hasan of Yudhoyono’s campaign team, however, dismissed the accusations.

"How could anyone doubt the BPS' research? It is a very competent and independent institution. If we continue to suspect each other, how can we move forward?" he said.

The BPS reports that there are 32.53 million poor people in Indonesia as of March 2009, down from 34.96 million in 2008 and 37.09 million in 2007. (hdt)

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