An Indonesian-Malaysian union?

Would this be possible with a post-WWII POD? How powerful could it get?

It would be difficult, most especially with a post wwii pod. Indonesia is, essentially, the dutch colonies in the area, while malayasia is, again essentially, the british colonies.

They dont share any common history as a single entity. Sure, you could create a Bahasa Malaynesia, that might be very similar to otls bahasa indonesia, but it would sound like pidgen to actual malays.

With a pod during wwii, if the us took control over the whole area, then yes, you could get a unified state, even if it isnt the most likely outcome. But afterwards, with the british and dutch back? I just dont see it.
 
Actually, there was a plan called Maphilindo (Malaysia-Indonesia--Philippines) during Soekarno, proposed by the Filippino president (forgot the name).

There's a common heritage because both are former territories of the Majapahit Empire.

There is also Islam. Make both more Islamic then decide to be together.
 
Actually, there was a plan called Maphilindo (Malaysia-Indonesia--Philippines) during Soekarno, proposed by the Filippino president (forgot the name).

There's a common heritage because both are former territories of the Majapahit Empire.

There is also Islam. Make both more Islamic then decide to be together.

Majapahit means nothing in modern realpolitik- Sukarno tried using it as part of the Indonesian national identity but it doesn't really factor into the Malaysian national identity. That's like saying that France and Germany should unite as a nation state because of Charlemagne.

Islam doesn't make everything magically fit- there are still going to be major regional and cultural differences.
 
That's like saying that France and Germany should unite as a nation state because of Charlemagne.

Obviously crazy talk. Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg must also be included at a minimum. ;)

Anyway, would this Indo-Malay union include Brunei and East Timor as well?
 
I've asked this before

Indonesia + Malaysia = Greater Indonesia. Culturally it makes much sense to have Indonesia and Malaysian territories united under a single state. Geopolitical factors however, kinda prevented it from happening.

Was the Japanese occupation realistically sustainable, there was actually a plan by Japan to make a client state out of Malaysia and most of Indonesia.

The only chance, and a very remote and stretchy one at that, would be Maphilindo plan. I personally don't know how, but the last time I heard anything about Maphilindo, somebody said something basically this : either you would need to make early Indonesia much less lefty and turbulent, or prevent Malaysia from forming by having Indonesia and Phillipinese successfully tackle it. Then again, it may won't include Northern Kalimantan especially for the later case, at least not immediately, but you would have Indonesia, Malaya and Phillipines joined together under a custom union.

The source

Maphilindo!
 
Depends on how we want that particular dish served.

At the end of a gun barrel or from the negotiating table.

Because the way Indonesian independence worked out and given how Malays saw themselves vis-a-vis Indonesia, I cannot see the latter gaining any serious ground.
 
In the initial years after independence, when Sukarno was the president of Indonesia, the relations between Malaysia and Indonesia were far from cordial. But afterwards the differences between them were settled and both became members of ASEAN and partners in trade and economic co-operation. Indonesia and Malaysia along with Brunei share many cultural attributes. The Malay language spoken in Malaysia and Brunei and Bahasa Indonesia, the national language of Indonesia are very similar. All three countries have Muslim majorities.

But the three countries vary widely in their areas and populations. Those are Indonesia (1 904 569 sq.kms, 240 millions), Malaysia (330 434 sq.kms, 27 millions) and Brunei (5 765 sq.kms, 0.39 millions) respectively. These wide variations make the smaller countries wary of their bigger neighbor. Further there is the natural reluctance of the countries to sacrifice their identity and sovereignity. Hence an Indonesian-Malaysian union is unlikely in the near future, though closer economic and political co-operation is possible.
 
The Filipino president who suggested the Maphilindo idea was Diosdado Macapagal, and to make Maphilindo work, the Konfrontasi must either go well for Sukarno, along with preventing Suharto from coming to power. In addition, only a successful partition of Malaysia would have achieved the Maphilindo idea, which the Bruneian lands may come under Indonesian control.
 
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