Melayu
Federal Republic of Melayu Republik Persekutuan Melayu (Melay) | |
|---|---|
.svg) Flag
.svg) Coat of arms
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| Motto: Kemerdekaan – Kebebasan – Kebahagiaan "Independence – Liberty – Happiness" | |
| Anthem: Negaraku | |
| Capital and largest city | Ranau |
| Official languages | Melay |
| Recognised national languages | English Quenminese Tamil |
| Ethnic groups (2020) | 51,1% Melay 20,2% Quenminese 17,5% Europan 6,2% Tamil 5,0% Others |
| Demonym(s) | Melay |
| Government | Federal parliamentary republic |
• President | Lokman bin Embong |
• Prime Minister | Jaya binti Raja |
| Legislature | Parliament |
| Independence from the Lucis Empire | |
• Proclaimed | 1 March 1930 |
| Area | |
• Total | 2,241,870 km2 (865,590 sq mi) |
• Water (%) | 3.55 |
| Population | |
• 2020 census | 315.742.576 |
• Density | 140/km2 (362.6/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2020 estimate |
• Total | Ᵽ7,8 trillion |
• Per capita | Ᵽ25.000 |
| Gini (2020) |  20.0low |
| HDI (2020) |  0.700high |
| Currency | Melay perak (Ᵽ) (MLP) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +60 |
| Internet TLD | .ml |
Melayu, officially the Federal Republic of Melayu (Melay: Republik Persekutuan Melayu) is a country in South Asianna, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It consists of several islands, including Kalimantan, Singapura, Sulabesi, and Seram. It borders Tamau to the west, Quenmin to the north, the Guinea Islands to the east, and Zanarkand and the Besaid Islands to the south. Its capital and largest city is Ranau, located on southern Kalimantan.
Inhabited since the late Stone Age, the Melay kindgoms came under Indian and Quenminese cultural influence. These were conquered by the Lucis Empire from the 18th century. A war of independence erupted after the First Europan War, lasting from 1920 to 1930, and turning later into a civil war between different factions. The conflict ended with Melay independence and the victory of the Green Movement led by Julia binti Darma, whose rule left an enduring impact on the country.
Melayu is a socialist state, with a multiparty system and a constitutional ban on capitalist advocacy. The Green Movement is the dominant party, and competes in elections against other leftist parties. The country has a planned economy based on cooperatives and workers' self-management, with the means of production under social ownership. Most services—such as healthcare, education, housing and food production—are state-owned.
Melayu is a regional power and considered a middle power in global affairs. Its foreign policy has been dominated by periods of isolation as a socialist state, fierce rivalries with the authoritarian socialist Lorica and Nanja Republic, and territorial disputes with Ingelmia. It has a high Human Development Index and low Gini coefficient, but comparatively low economic growth rates. Its human rights record has been criticised, mainly for its censorship of capitalist viewpoints and ban on capitalist parties.
Etymology
Various etymologies have been proposed for the name "Melayu", including:
- Sanskrit Malaiyur-pura, meaning "mountain town".
- Tamil malai and ur meaning "mountain" and "city, land", respectively.
- Javanese word meaning "to run", from which a river, the Sungai Melayu ("Melayu river"), was named due to its strong current.
History
Evidence of human settlement on Melayu dates back 40.000 years. From the first century CE, Indian and Quenminese traders arrived, setting up trading ports and coastal towns. This produced a strong Indian and Quenminese influence on local cultures, including adoption of Buddhism. Between the 7th and 15th centuries, various thalassocratic empires arose in the region, making it an important commercial centre.
Europan contact with Melayu dates to 1511, and included wars of conquest by Nibelheimian and Atlantian colonists. The Lucis East Indiae Company established a presence in 1786. Gradually, Melayu was conquered and incorporated into the Lucis Empire. Lucian control over the archipelago was tenuous, and repeated rebellions tied up colonial military forces.
The Melay took advantage of Lucis' exhaustion from the First Europan War to launch a war of independence in 1920. The rebels' gradual success against Lucian forces brought independence in sight, but caused the eruption of an internal civil war between competing factions. The Melay National Front (Barisan Nasional Melayu) prevailed over the other factions. However, Julia binti Darma staged an internal coup and took power in 1930, turning the Melay National Front into the Green Movement (Pergerakan Hijau). The 1931 Statute of Herrenhausen confirmed Melayu's independence.
Julia's leadership, lasting from 1930 to 1960, brought profound changes that were dubbed the "Green Revolution" (Revolusi Hijau). Melayu became a socialist state, with a strict ban on capitalism. The economy was brought into social ownership and cooperativised. Numerous social liberalising reforms were introduced, including state secularism, women's rights, LGBT rights, drug liberalisation, and legalisation of sex work.
Subsequent periods of high economic growth alternated with periods of stagnation, correlated with periods of improved foreign relations versus pushes for autarky. The digital revolution and growth of the internet transformed the Melay economic model, allowing the transition to cybernetic planning and greater participatory democracy. Melayu remained neutral during the War of Lorican Aggression, Post-War of Lorican Aggression Crisis, and Imperial Crisis, seeking to remain independent from both the capitalist bloc and the authoritarian model of Lorica.
Geography
Melayu is an archipleagic state. The largest islands are Kalimantan, Singapura, Sulabesi, and Seram. Kalimantan also has the country's largest rivers, while the largest lake is on Sulabesi.
Climate
Melayu has a tropical climate, relatively even year-round due to its position along the equator. It has two seasons: a wet season (November–April) and dry season (May–October).
Moderating factors on the climate include almost uniformly warm waters surrounding the islands, high humidity (70–90%), moderate and generally predictable winds. Most areas experience slight differences in rainfall and temperature between the seasons.
Biodiversity
Melayu is a megadiverse country with high levels of biodiversity and endemism. It has among the world's most draconian environmental protection policies. 87% of the land area is covered by forests.
Governments since independence have strongly favoured ecotourism to the exclusion of other kinds, and have imposed strict limits on logging, fishing, and similar activities to protect the environment.
Demographics
The 2020 census recorded a population of 315.742.576, making Melayu one of Southeast Asianna's most populated countries. The country has an average population density of 140 people per km2, and a total fertility rate of 1,5. The population is spread unevenly over the archipelago, with most of it concentrated on Kalimantan. 70% of the population is urban.
Melayu is an ethnically diverse country. The 2020 census recorded 51,1% of the population as Melay, 20,2% as Quenminese, 17,5% as Europan, 6,2% as Tamil, and 5,0% as Others. Citizenship is granted based on the jus soli principle.
The official language is Melay, written solely in the Latin script. English, Quenminese, and Tamil are further recognised as national languages.
Freedom of religion and irreligion is protected by the constitution, and Melayu is officially a secular state. Occasionally controversial secularising policies implemented since independence have given Melayu one of the least religious populations in Asianna. 72% of Melay residents identify as atheist or unaffiliated. The largest religion is Buddhism, practiced by 20% of the population.
Economy
Melayu has a decentralised planned economy, with planning taking place through computer-managed resource allocation and participatory economics. Market mechanisms are highly restricted, and mainly used for consumer goods. The means of production are held in social ownership or public ownership. Education, healthcare, housing, and food distribution are free and state-owned. All companies are required to be cooperatives, which form the basis of the economy.
The Melay Trades Union Congress (Kongres Kesatuan Sekerja Melayu, KKSM) is the national trade union centre, and has a major role in the economy. All workers are automatically enrolled in a union when starting work, and closed shops are the norm. Union density is 100%, the highest in the world. The KKSM's economic arm owns and operates numerous enterprises, including the largest bank and health insurance company; it dominates the services, public transport, and agriculture industries; it also owns Melayu's largest newspaper and sports clubs under the name Pekerja ("The Worker").
Traditionally based on agriculture, the economy underwent extensive industrialisation and urbanisation in the 1950s–1970s. Today, the largest sector of the economy is services (43,4% of GDP), followed by industry (40,7% of GDP) and agriculture (11,8% of GDP). There is a tendency towards autarky in the economy: strict capital controls and foreign exchange controls are in place, the Melay perak is non-convertible, and numerous non-tariff barriers to trade protect the domestic market.
A form of rationing is practiced, with a universal basic ration (Catuan Asas Sejagat, CAS) being provided to citizens with a ration book free of charge, while non-essential foods can be purchased at higher prices. Numerous other essential commodities are rationed, including petrol, water for outdoor use, fuel, clothing, wood and paper. Melay society is characterised by a staunch emphasis on personal frugality and avoidance of any kind of waste, with a notable impact on its cuisine and fashion. The country has a low relative poverty rate and inequality rate, enforced by policies such as a lifetime wage ceiling of Ᵽ1 million for liquid wealth and high progressive tax brackets.
Foreign trade is expanding, albeit at a slower rate due to the aforementioned protectionist and autarkic tendencies. Significant exports include electronics, tin, rubber, palm oil, rice, tea, coffee, vehicles, chemicals, and machinery. Significant imports include machinery, chemicals, plastics, vehicles, telephones, and electronics.
Transport infrastructure is dominated by railways and water routes. Melayu has a strong public transport system, which includes high speed rail, trams, buses, metro systems, and cycle rickshaws. Transport policies are geared towards environmental sustainability, discouraging car use and limiting domestic air travel to essential routes. Major cities all have bicycle-sharing systems. Famously, the country still uses airships as a means of air transport more than airplanes, with more mooring masts and airship hangars across Melayu than airports.
Energy use in Melayu is dominated by nuclear power and renewable energy.
Government and politics
Melayu is a federal socialist republic with a parliamentary system. The President of Melayu (Presiden Melayu) is the head of state, with a primarily representative and ceremonial role. They are elected by the parliament. The President signs the laws passed by the parliament, with the possibility of returning them for a new debate if they consider them unconstitutional. The President also dissolves parliament, calls elections, and designates a new government.
The Parliament of Melayu (Parlimen Melayu) is the federal legislature. It is unicameral and has 100 members, elected through party-list proportional representation. Parliamentary elections are held every 4 years, the most recent in 2020.
Executive power is vested in the Cabinet of Melayu (Kabinet Melayu), led by the Prime Minister (Perdana Menteri Melayu). Melayu has alternated between single-party governments (whether majority or minority) and coalition governments when no party has obtained an absolute majority.
Melay law is based on the civil law system. The judiciary is independent, using a nonadversarial system, and is headed by the Supreme Court (Mahkamah Tertinggi Melayu) for civil disputes and the Constitutional Court (Mahkamah Perlembagaan Melayu) for constitutional issues.
Melayu has increased use of direct democracy since the 1960s. The main mechanisms are popular initiatives, referendums, and recall elections.
Elections and parties
Elections are fixed-term and held every 4 years. All federal and state legislatures are capped at 100 members, and elected through open list party-list proportional representation with no electoral threshold.
Melayu has a multi-party system, but restricted entirely to left-wing politics. The Green Movement has been the dominant party since 1930, with nearly every Prime Minister being a member of the party.
Major federal parties incude:
| Party | Abbr. | Ideology | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Movement Pergerakan Hijau |
PH | ||
| Communist Party Parti Komunis |
PK | ||
| Ecologist Party Parti Ekologi |
PE | ||
| Solidarity Party Parti Perpaduan |
PP | ||
| Pirate Party Pesta Lanun |
PL | Pirate politics | |
| People's Party Parti Rakyat |
PR | Buddhist socialism | |
| Innovation Party Parti Inovasi |
PI | Techno-progressivism Social liberalism Market socialism | |
| Agrarian Union Kesatuan Agraria |
KA | Agrarian socialism | |
| Anarchist Federation Persekutuan Anarkis |
PA | Anarcho-communism Platformism | |
There are also various localist and minority interest parties, which run in local elections.
Administrative divisions
Melayu is a federation of 8 states (Negeri), each in turn divided into districts. Each state has a unicameral assembly whose members are elected by open list party-list proportional representation. State governments are led by Chief Ministers (Ketua Menteri).
Local government is carried out by district councils and city councils.
Foreign relations
Melay foreign policy is officially based on principles of independence, neutrality, and promotion of socialism. Melayu has faced historical periods of isolation as a socialist state. It has a fierce rivalry with Lorica and Nanja Republic, and territorial disputes with Ingelmia in Micronesia.
It has an often tense relationship with Quenmin, due to Quenmin's regional power status and events such as the Fall of Singapura. Its relationship with the United Kingdom is similarly fraught owing to the colonial past; it refuses to join the Commonwealth even after republics became eligible to join in 1976.
Melayu currently has no relations with the Guinea Islands, broken off due to Melay support for the Communist Insurgency in the Guinean Islands.
Military
The Melay Armed Forces have three branches: Army, Navy, and Air Force. Military service is voluntary, with a required age of 18 years, but the constitution allows conscription to be introduced in wartime. The defense budget is 2,5% of the country's GDP.
Human rights
Under the current constitution, capitalism is banned, with "capitalist advocacy" carrying a prison sentence. The Melay government has been accused of violating human rights and fundamental freedoms, including arresting and imprisoning capitalist advocates and censoring positive portrayals of capitalism, including extensive internet censorship.
Society
Education
Melayu has an extensive network of public schools, colleges, and universities. Private education is banned. Compulsory education lasts from age 6 to age 15, encompassing primary education and secondary education. Higher education is provided by universities, community colleges, and polytechnics. Education has a strong ideological emphasis, with mandatory courses on leftist theory, and is completely free. The country's literacy rate is 100%. The study of foreign languages is a main deficiency of the education system.
Health
Melayu runs a free public health system that reaches down to the hamlet level, and healthcare is one of the largest areas of government expenditure. It has one of the highest doctor-to-population ratios in the world. Preventive medicine is emphasized through physical exercise and sports, nationwide monthly checkups and routine spraying of public places against disease. Every individual has a lifetime health card which contains a full medical record.
The manufacture and distribution of medication is wholly nationalised, and chemical patents are banned. As a result of drug liberalisation, Melayu is a global centre of psychopharmacology research, and is known for extensive use of psychedelic therapy.
Welfare
Melayu has an extensive welfare state. Its cornerstone is the universal basic income, delivered through a negative income tax system and citizen's dividends provided by state-owned enterprises, and the universal basic ration.
The welfare state is complemented by numerous decommodification mechanisms, including parental leave, free school meals and milk, a high minimum wage and annual leave, free public transport and housing.
Culture
Melay culture has been shaped by its ethnic diversity and historical influences from India, Quenmin, and the United Kingdom. During the Green Revolution, the government created a "National Cultural Policy" (Dasar Budaya Negara) to promote Melay culture and subsidise the arts. Arts education programs are widely accessible, and cities and villages organise and subsidise numerous artistic festivals and performances.
Animation
Melayu has a notably strong animation industry, which marks one of the few exceptions to the generally closed economy. Starting in the 1980s, Melayu became a popular site for outsourcing animation from major studios around the world, owing to its recognised high quality of animation and the low prices caused by the unconvertible perak.
Media
The Melay media is extensively regulated, and seen by analysts as being restricted to only left-wing viewpoints. The main newspapers are owned by political parties and the KKSM. The national public broadcaster is Radio Televisyen Melayu (RTM), which operates both television and radio channels.
The internet in Melayu has one of the highest penetration rates in the world. Melayu has a single internet provider, Melay Post and Telecommunications (Pos Dan Telekomunikasi Melayu, PDTM). PDTM administers the national broadband plan that has been credited with giving Melayu among the fastest-speed and cheapest internet in Asianna. Melay internet policy is shaped by technological sovereignty, and includes extensive regulation of public internet access to censor capitalist and right-wing websites.
Holidays and festivals
The country has 11 recognised holidays. These include: New Year's Day on 1 January, Independence Day on 1 March, International Women's Day on 8 March, International Workers' Day on 1 May, and various religious festivals with movable dates, including Buddha's Birthday, Vesak, Lantern Festival, Ghost Festival, Thaipusam, and Diwali.
Melayu has been criticised for granting official status to Buddhist and Hindu holidays while denying it to Abrahamic religions.
Sports
Popular sports in Melayu include association football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, swimming, sailing, martial arts, and skateboarding.