Indomalaya

The **Federal Republic of Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago**, or **Indomalaya** is a Nation in Southeast Asia and Northern Oceania. It has jurisdiction over parts of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the leading member of The Realm.

## Geography

Indomalaya stretches from the **Indochina Peninsula** into the **Malay Archipelago**, stretching as far as Fiji. It also owns further disconnected islands, such as Taiwan and Sri Lanka. In the North, it borders GUISS, mostly along the Eastern foothills of the Himalayas. Their mutual border ends at a tri-point with The Indian Commonwealth of Neo-Europe, atop a smaller peak of Hkakabo Razi. The border with India heads from here to the bay of Bengal, mostly following a string of smaller peaks. To the Northeast, Indomalaya shares a maritime boundary with fellow Realm member Japan-Korea in the Okinawa islands. Indomalaya also shares a significant maritime boundary with the Auroa Vanguard Republic, running across the Timor, Arafura, and Coral seas. Indomalaya's most remote areas can be found in the scattered Pacific Islands.

Indomalaya is a mixture of **mountains** and **river valleys**. The nation has a number of significantly large rivers, including the Mekong and Irrawaddy rivers, as well as a section of the Yangtze River, alongside many smaller rivers. A significant number of Indomalayan peaks are volcanic, with the nation lying on three different Volcanic arcs. Indomalaya's land makeup changes little into the Malay Archipelago, as many islands are equally as mountainous. The nation is home to some 30,000 islands, the most in the open ocean of any country, **including 8 of the 25 largest**. (Nordica has more overall, but the majority of these are found in it's lakes). Indomalaya has **comparatively few major lakes**. The population distribution of Indomalaya is very evenly spread, and very densely packed. The only exceptions are heavily afforested areas, such as the islands of Borneo and New Guinea. Likewise, Indomalaya's largest cities are also evenly spread. These include **Manila, Jakarta, Bangkok, Saigon, Singapore**, and others.

### Climate

Indomalaya is made up almost entirely hot, humid climates, although a few areas of cold, dry climates are found in its tallest mountain ranges, such as Northern Yunnan, at the Easternmost edge of the Tibetan plateau, and Central New Guinea. Indomalaya is very fertile, especially in the wet season, allowing for massive agricultural production. Indomalaya mostly fits into **Dry Winter Subtropical (Cwa)**, **Dry Winter Subtropical Highland (Cwb)**, **Tropical Rainforest (Af)**, **Tropical Monsoon (Am)**, and **Tropical Savannah (Aw)** climates. Indomalaya has a number of **Tundra (ET)** climates, found exclusively atop mountains, as well as a small area of **Semi-arid (Bsh)** climate in central Burma.

### Subdivisions

Indomalaya is divided into 25 states and 2 territories. These mostly co-incide with the 4 unofficial 'regions' of Indomalaya, based on Bio-geographic and Ethno-linguistic divisions.

### Selenography

Indomalaya has two lunar colonies, Phāyutan and Jauhtan. Phāyutan is located in the sea of storms, nearby to the Nordican colony, Hreggland, while Jauhtan is located on the far side of the moon, near the Milne crater. Phāyutan has three major cities, **Lilimduna**, **Preahlung**, and **Kimala**. The total population of the colony is slightly smaller than it's neighbour. Jauhtan is made up of two cities, **Bầulung** and **Avàopintu**. All five cities are built inside of **biodomes**, designed to replicate home climates.

### Areography

Indomalaya has one Martian colony, Đỏmerah, located near the Mariner Valleys, with two cities, **Marmera** and **New Honiara**. The colony was founded a few years after the first Mars landing. Unlike the lunar colonies, the Martian cities are largely subterranean, with only a few surface structures. This is due to a need to efficiently store water in Mars' underground aquifers, otherwise, they run the risk of evaporation. The colony serves as a base for expeditions, especially to the nearby valley

## Government

As a federal Republic, some decision making is done by the state assemblies. However, some decisions are reserved for the national government. This is made up of a number of representatives of each state, including the heads of assemblies. The government has a total of 433 seats, with approximately one representative per two million people. The government is led by a **President**, who is elected in the second round of elections, in June. They serve a maximum of two 6 year terms.

### Assemblies

An **Assembly** makes a large number of decisions for its state. The size of these may vary by state: in small states, these typically have around 100 members, however the largest states can have as many as 1000 members. These are led by their respective **Head of Assembly**, who are appointed by the winning party in that state. Usually, the general public are aware who this will be for each party in advance. The public vote in the first round of elections in March for their **Member of Assembly**, or **MA**. These may also be a **Representative of State**, if appointed by the head of assembly. However, in some of the smallest states, the head of assembly is the only representative of state. An assembly has significant powers although it cannot set its own laws, which is reserved for the national government.

### Councils

A **Council** serves its respective Territory. They have little powers, except to implement changes made by the government. People in Territories may elect some of their **Council Members**, although this is through an unofficial election.

### The Commission

**The Commission** is a separate branch of government. It mainly focuses on bilateral relations, although holds a few ceremonial duties, such as the admission of new states. The Commission is mostly unelected, although a few roles, including occasionally **The Commissioner**, are elected. The Commissioner will appoint their Commission, assigning their own roles. They also frequently appoint their successor.

## Demographics

Indomalaya has a total population of **863.5 Million people**. The nation is made up of five major ethnicities, with the largest of these, **Malay** making up **38%** of the population, **more than twice that of the next largest group**. The 'Malay' grouping includes those of Malayan, Javanese, and Sumatran descent, as well as a number of others. The next largest ethnicities are: Vietnamese, at 16%; Filipino, at 13%; Burmese, at 11%; and Chinese, at 10%. Each of these groups are a majority in at least one state. Despite this, not every ethnicity with a state-majority has a significant enough population to register a percentage, such as the Japanese in Okinawa. Due to the small size of the state, they make up less than 1% of the population. The only other significant ethnicities to have a state-majority are the Thai, at 5%, and the Melanesians, at 2%. The remaining 5% are "other", mostly people from other Realm members, and migrants from the Indian Commonwealth. The number of these, in particular have increased due to an exodus of refugees from Neo-Europe, due to Tekin's coup, and the quelling of the Bengal protests. These migrated mostly into the cities. These have more mixed demographics, especially the Capital, **Singapore**, which is less than 10% Malay.

### Language

Indomalaya has a myriad of different languages, owing to its unique blend of peoples. The most commonly spoken language is **Realm English**, an **descendant of modern English**, and **Lingua Franca of both Indomalaya and The Realm**. The language is mandatory for schools to teach, and for students to take, with employers often refusing to hire those who cannot speak the language. It is a very difficult language to learn, as it shares little with Indomalaya's native languages. The only part of the country to speak it as a first language is Mariana.

The second most commonly spoken language in the country is **Indomalayan**, a **natural confluence of Malayan, Filipino and Vietnamese bridge tongues**, happening due to an increase in cultural mixing across the South China Sea, as a result of the formation of Indomalaya, and the influence of the Colony of Malaya before it. Indomalayan has become the largest first language in the nation. An increasing proportion of media is made in the language, and it has begun to spread into areas that didn't initially speak one of its components, such as Formosa. The language sees large resistance in certain states, such as Myanmar and Siam, who view the language as a threat to their cultural identity. Cambodia, with significant links to Vietnam, has already seen its own language fall out of favour, with it being entirely replaced in some areas. In these parts, the contention has lead to a number of dialects, such as **Yunnani** (incorporating more Chinese vernacular), and **Cambodian** (a creole-like mix with its own Khmer language), however further linguistic mixing will eventually fully integrate these areas.

**Burmese** and **Thai** are some of the largest remaining languages, with the three States that speak these languages pushing their own languages against the larger Indomalayan. In these states, it is mandatory for schools to teach in these languages. On top of this, schools receive a grant from their respective state to not teach Indomalayan as a class. Despite this, a number of private schools, as well as language tutoring software, teach Indomalayan regardless.

A number of contacted and uncontacted tribes, found across more forested areas, have their own languages, many of which have protected status. Alongside this, languages replaced by Indomalayan also have a protected status, many kept alive for scholarly purposes. A linguistic shift similar to that on the mainland is underway in Melanesia, with the small **Melanesian languages**, many restricted to only one island, offering little resistance. Some effort is ongoing to protect these minority languages, but it is a more difficult task, due to the region's variety in language and lack of political willpower.

### Religion

Religion holds a weakened, but still important role in Indomalayan society. While 62% still affiliate with a religion, the **number of active practitioners have drastically decreased**. Recent estimates suggest actual practitioners stand at just over half of this. Religion has had to adapt to modern society, with creationism having disappeared as an idea. The religious branches that do survive have taken a more moderate stance, with extreme practices being dropped. Hard-line followers do still exist, as evidenced by the **Sanctorum crisis**, which saw a number of religiously motivated terror attacks, mostly on sacred sites and places of worship.

Indomalaya's largest religion is Islam, at 26%, almost entirely of the **Agahri** sect. (A more liberal branch of Islam, adhering to the Realm's more liberal society). 21% are **Buddhist**, mostly concentrated in Indo-China. The remaining 14% are Christian, split between **Catholicism** at 10% and **Protestantism** at 4%. Alongside this, there are a number of smaller religions, such as Shintoism and indigenous beliefs, which combined, make up the remaining 1%. Religious mixing is much less frowned upon, with it having been a historic limitation on Indomalayan unity in the early years, although divisive, religious politics has all but ceased.

## Culture

Indomalaya is a very mixed nation culturally, with each state of its own cultural background. Some of the largest influences are **Malay, Vietnamese, Thai, and many others**. Therefore, 'Indomalayan' does **little to designate cultural identity**. Despite this, cultural mixing has occurred, and, like with language, a hybrid cultural identity has started to appear, though in more isolated pockets, generally the cities. Indomalayans can be both vibrant and friendly, or reserved and mellow, very much dependant on their cultural background. As a general rule, Malayans and Vietnamese tend to be the most open, with Burmese being the most closed off. However, a number of other factors can also determine this. As such a mixed country, identity is a very important part of Indomalayan society, with many being able to trace their cultural heritage back a number of generations, especially those of mixed ancestry. As a result, local customs and traditions are very well preserved, and very commonplace in the country.

### Cuisine

Indomalayan cuisine is known for being extravagant and relatively complex, incorporating a myriad of ingredients, especially spices. Both meat and fish are equally common in their cooking, with insects also being fairly common. most dishes are accompanied by rice, or some other grain based alternative. Noodles and beans are commonly used also, in dishes like pad Thai or pho. The nation's food varies a lot by state, with each having their own dishes and flavours. This variety has allowed their cooking significant notoriety across the Realm, with almost every member state adopting the cuisine, although insect consumption is almost entirely dropped abroad. Generally, high end cooking tends to use more expensive spices, as well as special cuts or types of Meat.

Foreign Cuisine has a more limited impact on Indomalaya, owing to the diversity in its own food. A notable exception to this is **Japonic food**, which has seen a notable spike in recent years. It's prevalence is linked to a wave of Japanese immigrants in the immediate aftermath of WW3. Of particular notability, are 'bite-size' dishes, such as sushi, often specially tailored for the Indomalayan market, not being as traditionally Japanese. **Korean food** has seen some impact, but is relatively small. **American style comfort food** has reasonable popularity in the insular parts of the state.

Alcohol consumption is reasonably common across Indomalaya, with low cultural appeal, especially in majority Islamic states, where it is still somewhat discouraged. However, many consumers exist, with **beer** being the main drink. Local beers tend to use more endemic ingredients, such as bamboo chutes. Western style beers are fairly popular though.

**Chilled soft drinks** are very commonplace in Indomalaya, owing to the humidity and heat. Iced tea is fairly popular, as are a number of other soft drinks. Many local companies produce drinks from their own cultures as well as more global products.

## Economy

Indomalaya is a **export-oriented, mixed economy**. It is a significant exporter of exotic timber, rubber, agricultural produce, electronics, robotics, weaponry, and water. Tourism is also a significant part of Indomalaya's economy, offering both cultural excursions, and beach resort breaks. This, combined, gives Indomalaya the **largest economy of the Realm**, although a slightly lower GDP than Nordica, though still above other Realm members, such as Ghania and America

### Resources

Indomalaya has significant resource capacity, especially in regards to renewable produce, due to its equatorial position allowing for a year-round growing season. Indomalaya has made a commitment to sustainable produce, aided by modern technology. It also has a limited supply of raw metals.

### Industry

Indomalaya has a significant industrial output, producing pharmaceuticals, vehicles (such as super-freighters), and weaponry. Indomalaya has a decent number of mostly-automated factories, spread across the nation.

### Science and Technology

Indomalaya has a very advanced tech sector, specialising in robotics. It also produces high end electronic devices, such as automated factory equipment. Indomalaya's Scientific background varies by state, with certain ones favouring Biological sciences, and others favouring Technological sciences.

### Energy

Indomalaya has a privatised energy sector. Indomalaya's energy is mostly renewably produced, comprised of Hydroelectric (28%) and Solar (42%). The remainder is generated by Nuclear fusion (30%). Indomalaya produces about as much energy as it consumes, occasionally exporting to, and importing from its neighbours.