Malaysia

Malaysia is a country in South East Asia in the Cyberpunk universe.

Overview
Malaysia has become the spiritual partner of Indonesia. The two separate parts, Peninsular Malaysia and Bornean Malaysia, provide for quite a bit of diversity, and conflict. Before the Meltdown, the main conflict was between the Chinese and Malays. The Chinese were dominating the economic Iandscape, as they do in other countries. Malaysia then enacted several laws giving Malays preference in employment, education, and housing, but they never went as far as Indonesia in anti-Chinese laws.

After the Meltdown, the hordes of refugees came in. Malaysia tried settling the new Muslim immigrants in Sabah and Sarawak, but they didn't want to go out to the jungle. They were forced to go to the islands, where the Malaysian branch of Sarekat Islam is building up strength.

During the Second Corp War Malaysia sided with Petrochem, and lost. They now have a land lease agreement with SovOil for refineries along the North Borneo Shore and the East Coast of the Peninsula. These coastlines are totally ruined by the Slick, causing more problems with the residents of the areas. Feeling alienated because of losing their traditional work, many have turned to radical Islam.

Government
Malaysians run the government, with heavy Sov backing. It is a grouping of 13 states (Sabah, Sarawak, and 11 more on the Peninsula), and the capital Kuala Lumpur.

Nine of the Peninsular states have Sultans, and every five years they have an election as to which will become "King" of Malaysia. These sultans run the largest companies, and are immune to prosecution for anything up to and including murder.

Sabah and Sarawak have a limited degree of autonomy, which is slowly being eroded by the needs of SovOil and their refineries.

Economy
Mere the Malays run the politics, the Chinese still have the economics well in hand, supplying the refineries, and running most of the stores and businesses. Most fixers in Malaysia will be Chinese. And yes, KL has a strong Triad Influence, under the Red Spear Gang. The major cities are all on the west side of the Peninsula, where the water is *till okay. A high mountain range runs down the center of the Peninsula, isolating the settled west side with the polluted east side, formerly the Islamic stronghold.

Kuala Lumpur
The capital is a very small city. Skyscrapers stand next to colonial buildings. It's a Malay city, definitely, but with a strong Chinatown and Indian quarter, both of which have strong problems. They still play Cricket in KL and sometimes have tests against Australia and New Zealand. The best area for shopping is the Pasar Malam in Chinatown's Jelan Petaling district.

Reference
PASQUARETTE, C. Pacific Rim Sourcebook. 1st ed. Berkeley CA: R.Talsorian Games, 1994 Malasia