Brunei (1983: Doomsday)
From Alternative History
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| Capital: | Bandar Seri Begawan | ||||
| Largest city: | Kuching | ||||
| Other cities: | Kota Kinabalu | ||||
| Language: official: | Malay | ||||
| Other languages: | Chinese, Indonesian, Chavacano, other native languages | ||||
| Population: | est. 3.000.00 inh. | ||||
| Independence: | 1983 | ||||
| Currency: | Brunei dollar | ||||
Brunei, officially the Sultanate of Brunei & Sarawak is a nation occupying the northern half of the island of Borneo. Brunei, the remnant of a very powerful sultanate, regained its independence from the United Kingdom on doomsday in 1983. As the country was already on the path for independence it was thought that the sudden forced transition would have little impact on the country. However as the months passed by it became apparent that doomsday would have a far greater impact on its economy. With the first world gone and international trade cut off, Brunei once prosperous economy was starting to falter. More important food supplies in the small nation were beginning to dwindle as food imports stopped.
In order to save the small country it turned its eyes south towards the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. Throughout its recent history had several territorial disputes with Malaysia over these territories of which it claimed. And so in 1987 when Malaysia was in a state of martial law most of the Malaysian armed forces were called over from East Malaysia to help put down mass riots that had broken out in Kuala Lumpur and Klang. And so seeing and opportunity in the chaos, Brunei's small army invaded and annexed Sabah and Sarawak in order to take over there vast natural resources; under the pretense of "restoring order."
While several of the troops still stationed in East Malaysia attempted to put up a resistance several high ranking units and officers had been bought off by the Bruneians. Within days the last remaining pockets of Malaysians surrendered. Throughout this time the government in Peninsular Malaysia had threatened to retaliate in a state of war, but these threats were in vain. The social, economic, and political strain on the remaining half of the country was too much because of the wide reaching effects of Doomsday. As Malaysia fell into an extreme Islamic reignite in the summer of 1987, the nation had no choice but to accept the situation for the time being. Some remnant Malaysian authorities in coastal Sabah, reasserted control over their respective communities by 1990, claiming legitimacy; Brunei opted to stay out of this "isolated unrest."
In 1993, Philippine forces made contacted with the Sabah communities; ultimately becoming an autonomous territory of that country two years later. It was on 7 August 1998, however that Brunei made direct contact, upon learning of its "sovereign infringement;" when a scouting party encountered a Philippine Air Force patrol. In a compromise-the so called "Treaty of Zambuanga"-, officials on both sides agreed on Sabah being Philippine territory, although dispute remains to this day on the boundary. Regardless, relations between the two nations are cordial enough for nationals to establish their respective company branches.
As of 2009, it hasn't joined the League of Nations.
[edit] See also
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