Pinang
 | The lore below may contain rough and vague ideas. If you want to help write the article or flesh out the lore below, we'd be happy to have you over at the RTL Discord Server for some brainstorming. |
| Pinang | |
|---|---|
| Free State of Pinang | |
| Established | 1978 |
| Population | 7,812,900 |
Pinang, officially the Free State of Pinang (Dutch: Vrijstaat Pinaang, Malay: Negeri Babas Penang, Chinese: 自由邦檳城), is a sovereign microstate located on the Malayan peninsula. The country's territory is composed of the main island of Pinang and the land on the Malaya peninsula between the down south Kerien river and the Muda river up north, while to the east the so-called “vlakte forms a border. The combined area of the nation has increased by some 37% since its foundation, mainly due to extensive land reclamation projects.
It has the fourth highest population density in the world. Its population is considered dominantly “Chinese” with a large and influential minority of what some might call Eurasians and Dutch Europeans. Despite its diversity, it is considered by all accounts to be a state there to protect the Chinese and Eurasians on the peninsula. Due to its history, its main languages are Dutch, Chinese and Taulands. The fundamental nature that it a state out there to protect its Chinese and Eurasian citizens is reflected in its policies, be it housing, healthcare and economic development. It is considered one of the more militarised societies on earth with some saying the entire nation her mentality can be explained as being under siege.
While the history of Pinang dates back hundreds of years, the modern state of Pinang can trace its origins back to the KNIL garrison located in “Nieuw Alkmaar” on the island of Pinang. In the final decades of Dutch colonial rule, the colonial admin started to invest in the island to turn it into a fortress. Something that proved to be effective during the east indies crisis, as the island and the region that is now Pinang remained under KNIL control throughout the crisis and had a capable industrial base. When the war started to go badly tho and when the chaos started to reign in the final years of the conflict the KNIL units stationed in the region, started to withdraw to Pinang, without orders from higher up. As it turned out this was organized by Kapitein Generaal Marten de Vries, a man that had fought in the KNIL all his life and would not give up the land he fought for. This resulted in a situation where in 1975 when all Dutch units withdrew “de Vries his army” as it was referred to, stayed and in fact became a safe haven for the Chinese refugees across the peninsula.
After early years of turbulence whilst lacking natural resources, international recognition and a hinterland, the nation rapidly developed to become one of the so-called “Rising lions”. Creating an export economy that had a focus on industrialism, and high tech industry the nation was able to develop itself rapidly under the leadership of the council of the Vrystaat.
Pinang is a central indirect democracy led by a council based on the Staten generaal system. Although there are officially free elections and the government is chosen it is often said the KNIL, still holds a large degree of power.