North Borneo (Mere Men)

This Mere Men article has not been expanded past 1960 yet.

Unitary State of North Borneo Negara Kesatuan Kalimantan Utara (Rumi) نڬارا كساتوان كليمنتن اوتارا (Jawi) Timeline: Mere Men OTL equivalent: Brunei (North Borneo Federation)
1960–19??
Flag (from 196?) Coat of arms
Motto:  Bersatu Dan Merdeka (from 196?) الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى Sentiasa membuat kebajikan dengan petunjuk Allah (1960–196?)
Capital		Brunei Town
Largest city		Kinabalu City
Official languages		Malay
Religion		Sunni
Demonym		North Borneans
Government		Unitary Islamic constitutional absolute monarchy under British protection(1960–196?) Unitary presidential republic (196?–19??)
-	Seri Mahkota	Omar Ali Saifuddin III (1960–196?)
-	Chief Minister	Marsal Maun (1960–196?)
Legislature		Legislative Council
History
-	Unification	1960
-	Monarchy abolished	196?
-	Part of Indonesia
Area
-	Total	204,119 km2  78,811 sq mi
Currency		North Borneo dollar
Time zone		NBST

North Borneo or North Kalimantan, officially the Unitary State of North Borneo (Malay: Negara Kesatuan Kalimantan Utara, نڬارا كساتوان كليمنتن اوتارا) or sometimes the North Borneo Federation, was a country on the northern coast of Borneo. To the south, it bordered Indonesia, while the disputed Spratly Islands and the Philippines laid to the north and northeast, respectively.

The territory of North Borneo had been largely controlled by the Sultanate of Brunei until the 17th century, when the eastern portion of the land was ceded to Sulu. In the 19th century, most of the western territory was lost to Sarawak, before all three areas became British protectorates. During the Second World War, North Borneo was occupied by Japan and after the liberation decolonisation movements began to emerge. Initially inclined towards pan-Malay sentiments of nearby Malaya, after it was again reunited under the Sultan of Brunei the North Bornean state instead sought independence on its own. Popular discontent with the monarchy, however, soon resulted in the deposition of the Sultan. After some time as a defacto satellite of Indonesia, North Borneo was ultimately absorbed into its larger neighbour.

History

Formation

Before the Second World War, North Borneo was divided between British protectorates of Sarawak, Brunei and North Borneo. In 1941, the territories came under Japanese administration following the Japanese invasion of Borneo. By the time of the Japanese surrender, the majority of North Borneo had been liberated by American, Australian and New Zealand troops. The protectorate of North Borneo became a crown colony, which was soon followed by Sarawak, whose Raj Charles Vyner Brooke ceded the land to the British government due to his inability to rebuild it after the war. This was, however, opposed by the population of Sarawak, who had already gained self-government through the 1941 constitution and who launched an anti-cession movement against the British, led by Charles' heir Anthony Brooke. However, the movement had been largely suppressed by the early 1950s and Anthony was forced to accept the status quo.

As the British governments shifted toward decolonisation, the attitude towards the North Bornean possessions changed as they started being prepared for independence. In Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III reluctantly created the first Bruneian constitution in 1953 after lenghty negotiations. The 1953 constitution was, however, seen as lacking by both the colonial authorities and the Bruneian independence movement, led by Ahmad M. Azahari and his Brunei People's Party (Parti Rakyat Brunei) and further negotiations were started with the Sultan.

The desired fate of all three British possessions in Borneo laid in the unification with emerging Malaya, however, due to fears of Malayan domination over the Bornean states, Azahari formulated a proposal for a federation of all three states under the Sultan and quickly gathered support for it in both Sarawak and North Borneo. The British authorities also supported the plan as a means of strengthening Borneo against both the communist threat in Malaya and Indonesian threat to the south, the Sultan was, however, opposed to the impositions of any limitations on his power, which was a prerequisite for the federation's formation. Ultimately, an agreement was reached in 1960 when the Sultan allowed for the formation of the position of a Chief Minister and the autonomy of Sarawak and North Borneo (renamed Sabah) in exchange for increased oil royalties. Preparations for the first Legislative Council and local elections were made, while Marsal Maun was appointed Chief Minister on an interim basis.

North Borneo insurgency

Flag of North Borneo during the reign of Omar Ali Saifuddin III

Shortly after the formation of the federation, popular discontent emerged. Azahari and the PRB (now renamed the North Borneo People's Party, Parti Rakyat Kalimantan Utara) were dissatisfied with the constitution and saw it as a means that only benefitted the Sultan and a small Bruneian elite. Additionally, the Sultan continuously delayed the election and began infringing on the autonomy of Sarawak and Sabah under the pretext of communist activities. The PRKU itself also began fracturing as individual members hoped to realise their own political ambitions.