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http://www.timesofindia.com/today/11busi20.htm

Link Indonesia keeps public in dark over `Y2K failures'

JAKARTA: After two years of anti-government riots and economic turmoil, Indonesia's technology gurus thought it best to keep the public in the dark about possible widespread failures from the Y2K computer bug.

"It's a touchy issue," says Widijanto Nugroho, a computer scientist and top government Y2K adviser. "If the government says, for example, the banks are not ready, people will rush the banks. If we don't say anything, it's probably better for the moment."

So, Indonesia's leaders have opted to keep the world's fourth most populous nation uninformed. Newspapers and TV shows barely mention the potential fallout of the computer glitch. Cabinet ministers are on orders not to talk it up. (Associated Press)

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), December 10, 1999

Answers

Mike,

It depends on what the meaning of "is" is.

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 10, 1999.

"So, Indonesia's leaders have opted to keep the world's fourth most populous nation uninformed."

gee, I wonder if our leaders might do something like this?

lol

Mike

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-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Well, chalk up another 1.5 million barrels a day of oil production that vulnerable.

-- Downstreamer (downstream@bigfoot.com), December 10, 1999.

The most amazing thing about Y2k is the ability of the media/government/business to keep such a widespread problem from public consciousness. OJ got more coverage than Y2k!

-- fatanddumb (fatdumb@nd.happy), December 10, 1999.

"It's a touchy issue." - Can we get a translation in Latin and add it to the US Presidential Year 2000 Committee seal of honour.

Llama

-- Llama man (llama@cool.net), December 10, 1999.

Mike,

Nawwwwwwwwww, they would never do that to 'us'. LOL good one Ed.

-- consumer (shh@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

the most disheartening aspect is that the vast majority of people will not take even an hour of their time to seriously look into y2k. even if somebody told me that they had evidence that california would fall into the pacific next month,i would at least look into it.

-- eric michael (bizarr4@hotmail.com), December 10, 1999.

It is true that the government is keeping us in the dark. But that's because they are in the dark themselves. The notion that, at the federal level, they have a good enough handle on this problem to control it is an illusion.

-- for real (for@real.com), December 10, 1999.

As I mentioned a month ago, it would be a good idea(although now time is short) to look at the labels/containers of almost ANYTHING you have/need as supplies, to identify those that are from foreign countries, AND that also are petroleum-based .

I had just checked a 6-pack of contact lenses that I had bought, and they were made in --INDONESIA. By CIBA.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY. An oil-based product, made in a far-off UNSTABLE foreign land (never mind Y2K!).

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), December 11, 1999.

Government and private sector Y2K spending in SE Asia
The Associated Press
Saturday, December 11, 1999

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi- bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/1999/12/11/ international1652EST0610.DTL

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

(12-11) 13:52 PST Government-provided figures on Y2K spending in Southeast Asia's major economies:

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PHILIPPINES: Government and private sector budgeted $450 million for Y2K preparations, of which $425 million has been spent.

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THAILAND: Government allotted $38 million to fix Y2K problems in 250 agencies. Private sector spent at least $140 million, nearly half in banking.

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MALAYSIA: Government allocated $224 million for public sector fixes, including $100 million from World Bank loan. Private businesses spent $290 million, half in financial sector.

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INDONESIA: No precise figures available, but National Y2K Task Force estimates public sector spent at least $200 million. No figures available for private sector.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.