Govt's database woes continue for second day
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Most district offices and their service units were unable to issue national identification cards for a second consecutive day yesterday due to census-database problems.
“The computer system is slow,” Interior Ministry spokesman Pipatchai Paiboon said yesterday. “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
Although census data could be retrieved from a backup server, the computer system experienced serious slowdowns.
Therefore, most district offices could only register deaths, births and new household registrations.
“The computer system has caused us headaches and much trouble for people,” Muang Ranong district chief Surat Akarawirojkul said.
The nationwide problem prompted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to hold discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit and Interior Ministry permanent secretary Phranai Suwannarat.
An informed source said Yongyuth blamed the system’s ageing mainframe for the hiccup.
After emerging from the discussions, Yingluck said the mainframe should have been replaced many years ago, but due to complaints about alleged irregularities in the procurement plan, the replacement had not taken place.
“We will consult relevant authorities as to what we should do next,” she said.
According to the informed source, the controversial procurement plan had stalled since being forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
The Election Commission (EC), meanwhile, said the database glitch would not affect the by-election in Chiang Mai’s Constituency 3.
“Voters can exercise their right during advance voting on May 27 or on the actual by-election day of June 2,” election commissioner Praphan Naigowit said.
