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Alfia Rahmaniar, Jakarta Y2K Problem Could Bring The year 2000 (Y2K) computer bug has the potential to emerge as a serious problem for Indonesia, even as the country starts out on the path towards recovery from the current devastating financial crisis, according to the World Bank. “Indonesia is currently working through the financial, economic, social, political and other complex dimensions of the current crisis; Y2K is one more problem. But I am confident that together we can find the best possible solution,” said Ben Fisher, director of operations at the World Bank’s Indonesian office. According to the World Bank’s research, Indonesia needs around US$1.6 billion to handle the Y2K problem, but the economic crisis will make it difficult for either the government or the private sector to handle the problem. “The lack of financial resources because of the economic crisis is a major inhibitor to making further progress on the Y2K problem,” said Giri Suseno, Minister of Communication. In order to better understand the Y2K problem and implement pre-emptive measures, the Indonesian government at the end of 1998 held a two-day conference supported by the World Bank. The government has also set up Indonesian Y2K Watch to increase the awareness of the Y2K problem. The body can also act as a consultant for the government and private sectors. The World Bank is expected to give a grant of around US$500,000 to help the Indonesian government to handle its Y2K problem. Many companies in the private sector have already started work on this problem; with some companies claiming to have finished. But many other companies are not able to take any action because they have to use all their resources to keep afloat in the economic crisis. The chairman of Y2K Watch, Aizirman Djusan, said that only 5% of Indonesian companies are prepared to face the year 2000. And the government is only now starting to address the problem, he added.
Banking Sector Leads The banking sector has been the most aggressive in dealing with the Y2K problem. It is also the sector which will feel the greatest impact, and therefore the Indonesian Central Bank, Bank Indonesia, has asked the national banks to complete their work on Y2K projects by the middle of 1999. Indonesia has more than 200 banks, but it seems that only the large banks will be ready to enter the year 2000. The economic crisis has hit the banking sector in the country significantly; around 16 banks have already closed while other banks are now still restructuring. The largest bank in country, Bank Central Asia (BCA), declared in September 1998 that it was already Y2K compliant. BCA expects to complete its Y2K project by April 1999, said Aswin Wirjadi, general manager, System Information Division, BCA. Other companies working on Y2K projects include telecommunication companies, airline companies, retail companies and multinational companies in Indonesia. There is no report yet on the manufacturing sector. State telecommunication company, PT Telkom, started its Y2K project in early 1998; it plans to complete it by the middle of 1999. The company is upgrading the software of its switching, transmission and information systems, and multimedia. The cost of Telkom’s Y2K project will be around US$200 million, estimates Wim Mozardi, head of information technology system, at Telkom. The other state-controlled telecom company, PT Indosat, expects to complete its Y2K project by the first half of 1999.
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