Computer problem may bring new crisis in the future: WB

JAKARTA (JP): The so-called Year 2000 computer problem has the potential to emerge as a serious crisis for Indonesia, even as the country might be on its way towards economic recovery, the World Bank has said.

In a statement released Tuesday it asserted that Indonesia had to understand the problem and implement pre-emptive measures.

"This is more than a technical problem," said Ben Fisher, director of operations at the World Bank's Jakarta office, pointing out that it could have very significant economic and social consequences, and it was important that the Bank and the Indonesian government worked out solutions with the team of international experts gathered in Jakarta.

The bank and the government sponsored a two-day conference on the Year 2000 computer problem, ending on Tuesday in Jakarta.

Fisher explained that this problem could affect the future health of the financial sector, which was currently undergoing serious reforms and restructuring.

Even the perception of a problem could be devastating, he added.

"In order to prevent panic, needless stockpiling and emptying of bank accounts, we must be effective, and gain the public's confidence in addressing the Year 2000 computer problem," he said.

"This is one of the biggest challenges of the information age as we head toward the new millennium," said Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono in the statement.

He thanked the World Bank for its proposed provision of grant funds to be used for developing a national Year 2000 computer problem plan, and noted that the lack of financial resources due to the crisis was a major inhibitor to making further progress on the matter.

The World Bank said in the statement that by sponsoring conferences around the globe and sharing international best practices with its client countries through its newly-created InfoDev unit (Information for Development), the World Bank had highlighted the importance of the Year 2000 computer problem, but urged that individual countries must recognize and take control of the problem.

Amid the financial crisis, Indonesia had shown its commitment to tackling the Year 2000 computer problem, and should be able to put systems in place now to avoid the potential crippling of the economy at the turn of the century, the Bank added.

"Indonesia is currently working through the financial, economic, social, political, and other complex dimensions of the current crisis; the Year 2000 computer problem is one more problem. I'm confident that together we can find the best possible solutions," Fisher said. (rei)