Perak (The Kalmar Union)

The Sultanate of Perak, Perak, is a large constitutional monarchy in South-West Asia. It is bordered by Thailand to the north, Perak and Pahang to the east and Malacca to the south. The capital is Kuala Kangsar and the population is around 11.5 million.

The head of State is Sultan Yusuf III.

The official language is Perakese Malay.

The currency is the Perak Dinar (PKD).

History
The northernmost of the Malay states, Perak enjoys wealth built on its extensive tin deposits. Dominated by Malacca until the city's conquest by Portugal in 1526, a new kingdom and dynasty was founded by Muzaffar Shah. This new kingdom would be instantly embroiled in long wars with the Pattani kingdom to the north and frequently was saved from complete destruction only by timely interventions by Thailand or Pahang.

Under the inspired leadership of Sultan Shahabuddin Riayat Shah Perak was transformed from punching bag to local power and in a series of bloody wars in the 1840s and 50s it absorbed a number of its smaller neighbours as well as seizing much of the Kra Isthmus from Thailand. This was well-timed too, the Johor War between United Netherlands and Malacca would ossify the Malay states preventing further aggregation. However the entrance of a major European player into the peninsula convinced Perak to seek out Kalmar protection. The Treaty of Pasir Puteh in 1878 secured Kalmar investment for developing the economy and also a powerful ally. Kalmar assistance allowed it to keep up with Thailand's army reforms and so far it has rebuffed all Siamese attempts to regain the Kra Isthmus.

Kalmar engineers are currently extremely interested to building a canal through the Isthmus. This would cut journey times between the Indian and Roasjoinn oceans considerably as well as lessening Kalmar reliance on Singapore. Many Kalmar politicians would like Perak to become a full member of the Union to help protect the project however Perak has so far merely applied for associate status alongside its neighbor Kelatan. This is sometimes put down to Perakese unwillingness to reform its relatively strict government which Copenhagen would probably insist upon.

Government
Perak's government is still quite authoritarian though a small single-chambered Executive Council is elected on a very limited franchise every four years. These governments have only an advising role and have no law-making powers of their own.

The current Head of State is Sultan Yusuf III and the Prime Minister is Mohammad Kadir.