Computer problem may bring new crisis in the future: WB
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)