Bandar Raja

Bandar Raja, officially Bandar Raja Capital Region or also know as BR for short (Samuderan: ꧋ꦧꦤ꧀ꦝꦂꦫꦗ; Samuderan: Daerah Ibu Negara Bandar Raja) is a planned city that serves as the administrative center of Samudera Darussalam. Situated on the eastern part of Mainland Samudera, its origin comes from the historical growing regional sentiments in the nation to have a federal capital on neutral ground, as well as the massive population growth of its previous capital, Palembang, a major economic center that also happens to serve as the seat of government for the state of Samudranagara. While most of the offices of federal government's branches are moved to the city, compromises during the process have led to a status quo where Palembang remains as the country's national capital per constitution, the seat of the head of state (the monarch), as well as the judiciary branch of the government. As such, Bandar Raja would often be called as the de facto capital of the country, although constitutionally, Samudera's capital remains in Palembang.

The establishment of Bandar Raja was the idea of the then-Mangkubumi Hakim Irawan. Studies conducted in order to look for a suitable place for the new federal capital took a few years, with the result being an underdeveloped royal estate in the central-western part of the peninsula, which had been previously offered by the Samuderan royal family as a probable location for the project. The development of the new capital started at August 1974 and finished at May 1996, although it would take another 5 years before the transfer of the capital would be completed, in part caused by the then-ongoing fiscal crisis. On January 3 2002, Bandar Raja became Samudera's second federal territory after West Saka. Its proximity to the city of Indrapura has caused several academicians to consider it as a part of the Indrapura metropolitan area.

With a mostly steady population of 170,000 (according to the 2021 census), Bandar Raja is the twenty-third largest city in the Crowned Federation. The city is divided into several zones, including administrative, diplomatic enclave, residential, and commercial areas. Although much of the federal territory consists of built up areas, parts of the city is dedicated to nature, with parks and other green spaces being relatively abundant.

Etymology
The name Bandar Raja is derived from the official Samuderan name, which translates to "King's City". The first word, Bandar, comes from the Farsi term Bandar, which means "port" or "haven". In the Samuderan language, however, the term is also used to refer to a port city or a city in general. According to the city government's official website, the name was choosen to honor the late Samuderan monarch King Abdurrahman III, who proposed the underdeveloped royal estate of Medan Raja to be developed into the new capital on behalf of the Samuderan royal family, should the federal government sees it fit. The previous name of the territory, Medan Raja, means "the king's field", alluding its status as a royal property.

History
Little is known about the early history of the region, albeit the area is recorded as being settled by early Samuderans following the fall of Meilawati. The unearthing of ancient beads, a monetary unit used in the ancient Samuderan state of Bayang and among other members of the Eternal League, suggest that the area served as a trade outpost along the old Sekayu river route, although no signs of permanent settlement from that era were found within the federal territory. The region would remain sparsely inhabited with the exception of a few nearby small towns, and until the 18th century, the area that is now part of the federal territory would only host a number of small agricultural hamlets and farms.

The area which was then known as Medan Raja (Samuderan: ꧋ꦩꦺꦣꦤ꧀ꦫꦗ) was established as a royal estate by the Royal Decree of Indrapura following the confiscation of a local sugar plantation formerly owned by the Talang family at the end of the Peninsular War. Government documents from the era recorded the existence of a small inland port and two villages, mainly populated by the workers of the plantation. The plantation and settlements persist to the 20th century, when villagers slowly abandoned the area in favor of the nearby cities of Indrapura and Medan Putera which experienced industrialization. Attempts by the royal family to bring the plantation back to live with the establishment of orchards and gardens to supplant the sugar plantation only received moderate successes. A large area of the estate was repurposed into an equestrian facility with a race track as a form of an entertainment for the royal family and the government guests in 1920, with the rest being abandoned to nature.

The vision of a new Federal Government Administrative Centre to replace Palembang as the administrative capital began to emerge in the late 1960s during the tenure of Hakim Irawan, Samudera's third mangkubumi since its independence. A new city on a neutral ground was envisioned, where the government would systematically locate its government offices within an efficient administrative hub; as opposed to the past where government offices were previously scattered across the congested Palembang. Various locations were proposed, with the most notable are Kampong Air Tawar outside Muara in Gadang and the royal estate of Medan Raja, which was proposed by the then-Samuderan monarch King Abdurrahman III. Another set of comparative study that followed favored the location of Medan Raja, which is closer to Palembang and the proposed route of Inter-Samudera Expressway, as well as deemed as having more room for growth, although its location which is far from the kingdom's geographical centre initially attracted several controversies. Regardless, the first foundation was laid out in August 1974, and the construction of the new capital would take place at the same month. It was one of Samudera's biggest projects, with an estimated final cost of NSD 7.2 billion. The entire project was designed and constructed by Samuderan companies, with only 10% imported materials. With the consent of the Majelis, the name Bandar Raja was chosen for the site.

The financial crisis of the late 1990s somewhat slowed the development of Bandar Raja, which was completed on 2 May 1996. Government staffs began to slowly move into the area in the late 1996, followed by the government servants in 2001, at the same time the transfer of the capital would be deemed as completed. On 3 January 2002, the area was formally transferred to the federal government from the state of Samudranagara and declared as Samudera's second federal territory.

Geography
Located approximately at the height of 56.4 m (179.13 ft) above sea level, Bandar Raja spreads across the relatively flat Central Plain region in an area of 145 km2 (56 sq mi). The Sekayu river, which flows through the city from the Tembering Plateau to its outlet in the Berok Bay to the east, bisects the federal territory into two parts. While the city is situated inland, it is actually not really far from the sea, with the municipality of North Indrapura being the only thing that separates the capital region from the coast. Bandar Raja is entirely surrounded by the state of Samudranagara, which differentiates it from the other federal territory of West Saka, which is bordered by the neighbouring nation of Eraman and the Meilawati Strait.

Cityscape
The city skyline is made up of mostly mid-range and a few tall buildings. From the start of its construction to the present, height restriction laws are imposed in the city as part of the original city plan, with no building constructed would be allowed to be taller than the maximum height limit from 10 to 50 m depending on the area, although few notable buildings such as the Pink Mosque's minaret are granted exemption to the law. The architecture of Bandar Raja varies widely, ranging from traditional Samuderan and Islamic style to neoclassical and modern, as reflected in the many buildings and structures of the city. As a planned city, much of Bandar Raja is developed following the initial design as created by the Samuderan-born architect and city-planner Ishak Cohen, with a network of open spaces and wide boulevards interlining the inner-city area.

The urban area of the federal territory is divided into 4 districts of unequal size, with the smallest being Central Bandar Raja. The district extends to cover areas that are located geographically at the centre of the city, and it hosts most of Samuderan federal government institutions, such as Meilawati Palace and the federal ministeries, as well as several commercial zones. To the north and east of the area is the district of Bukit Permai, where the parliament building, the Grey Palace, as well as SNASA headquarters are located. Covering the southern part of the federal territory is the district of Waringin, a largely residential zone that also includes the Akasia Avenue, one of the two locations in the city where many foreign embassies are situated. The district of Limau is located to the west and largely consists of residential and commercial zones. It is also the other location in the city that hosts foreign embassies, with diplomatic representatives are placed around the Mahogani Street.

Bandar Raja is home to many parks and various other forms of green areas, with the largest being Puteri Tujoh Botanical Garden. Designed by a team from the University of Northern Peninsula, Puteri Tujoh Botanical Garden is a relatively large wooden area not far from the city center featuring various plant species from all over Mandalanusa and beyond, with supporting facilities including restaurants, bike rentals, and picnic areas. Another notable example is the Maheswari Forest Park, a medium-sized urban park with bandshell, fitness trails, and camping sites near the headquarters of SNASA in Bukit Permai.

Another points of interest in the city include the Bandar Raja National Library, Unity Monument, Seri Harapan Bridge, Golden Snail Theatre, and promenades along the Sekayu River.

Climate
Bandar Raja features a seasonal tropical forest clime, with overall annual rainfall between 1000-2500 mm range with relatively cooler dry season. The wettest month is January with precipitation totaling 297 millimeters (11.7 inches), while driest months fall between May and September, with precipitation may reach as low as 26 millimeters (1 inch). Meanwhile, the recorded annual temperature in the city tend to range between 26-27 Celsius.

Demography
The population of Bandar Raja is 170,000 according to the 2021 census. Many of those work as government servants, although there are also workers in the small but thriving commercial sector. Historically, government servants and their families are encouraged to live in the capital, although as of currently, most of them choose to commute from the surrounding municipalities and the nearby city of Indrapura, swelling the city's day population by a significant margin. Bandar Raja's inhabitants include a foreign population of mostly embassy workers as well as a number of Samuderan internal migrants, although internal migration to the city has been strictly controlled by the government through a number of residential laws in order to manage its population growth. The most widely spoken languages in the city are Samuderan and Terranean, followed by Gadangese and Yueyu, which reflects the city's diverse population and ethnic composition.

Religion
A majority of Bandar Raja residents are Muslims according to the 2021 census, followed by those who identify as irreligious and adherents of Vinaya at 7% and 4%, respectively. The rest of the population belong to other religious groups, such as Bethinan, Judaism, and Christianity.

Places of worship in the city are dominated by mosques, with the non-denominational Pink Mosque (Samuderan: Masjid Merah Muda) serves as the primary place of worship for the city's Muslim community with space for up to 7,000 worshipers. Aside from mosques, a number of other places of worship for different religions also exist in the city and its vicinity, with the most notable are the Avalokiteshvara Vihara, which holds the position as the largest Vinayan temple in the city, and the Virgin Mary Church, a Roman Catholic church that is located near the diplomatic enclave of Akasia.

Government & Politics
Local administration is carried out by the Bandar Raja City Hall, a local council created to govern the capital region under the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs from the time of the city's formal establishment in 2002. Consisting of 10 members of the city advisory board, the agency is responsible for town panning, social and economic development, public health and sanitation, environmental protection and building control, waste removal and management, as well as general maintenance functions of urban infrastructure in the federal territory. With the exception of the mandulika or governor of Bandar Raja, members of the council are elected from the city districs using proportional representation for a four-year term. Meanwhile the mandulika is appointed by the Parameswara Council for a six-year term through consultation with members of the council who provide criteria and profile for a future candidate. Since 2002, the federal territory has been led by not less than 4 mandulika, with the previous ones are listed below:

Bandar Raja is home to the legislative branch of the Samuderan government, the Majelis. The capital region is represented in the bicameral Majelis by one elected MP in the Dewan Perwakilan (House of Representatives) under the seat of Bandar Raja, and by one appointed senator in the Dewan Negara (State Assembly). However, due to its status as a federal territory, MP from the city could only vote on matters directly affecting the area.

Government complexes

 * Grey Palace - The seat of the Majelis
 * Meilawati Palace - Serving as the main building of the Cabinet, Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the office of Mangkubumi
 * Seri Perdana Building - Official residence of Mangkubumi
 * Federal Ministry of Education
 * Federal Ministry of Health and Social Services
 * Federal Ministry of Finance
 * Wisma Antara - Serving as the offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade
 * Wisma Satria - Ministry of Defence
 * Federal Government Administrative Centre
 * Federal Bank of Samudera
 * Bandar Raja International Convention Centre

Education
Public schools are the main provider of education for both primary and secondary levels in the federal city. However, at least two independent schools also exist in the area's vicinity to cater to students' religious and special needs, with the former in the form of an Islamic boarding school. Meanwhile the latter takes form in the Royal Academy for Aided Education, a large educational institution established to provide special education ranging from primary to secondary levels for disabled students from Bandar Raja and its vicinity. Due to Bandar Raja's status as a federal city, schools in Bandar Raja are put under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Education, and like other schools in the country, uses both Samuderan and Terranean as its medium of instruction. However, the Bandar Raja International School is an exception in the sense that it follows a different curriculum from the one set by the government. As the sole center of learning that promotes education in an international environment in the area, the institution provides education for stages ranging from pre-school to upper secondary.

As of currently, there are no plans to establish a single university or other institute of higher learning within the federal capital, with the closest ones are located just in the neighbouring city of Indrapura. A proposal from the Royal University of Palembang to establish one of its campuses there is rejected by the city council, who cited the lack of real necessity for its construction with regards to the city's population and needs.

Healthcare
Bandar Raja has a large public hospital, the approximately 380-bed Hakim Irawan General Hospital, which is located in the Bandar Raja's district of Limau. A number of private hospitals, such as Ibnu Sina Private Hospital and Dharma Medical Centre, are also major healthcare providers for the area. Bandar Raja's hospitals typically receive emergency cases from not only the federal capital, but also its surrounding municipalities. The federal capital is also a home for at least 2 aged care facilities that are established to support the life of its elderly citizens.

Air
The city is served by Indrapura Airport, which is located in the neighbouring city of Indrapura. As the airport only serves domestic flights, foreign visitors who arrive by air usually go through either Medan Putera International Airport or King Iskandar I International Airport in Palembang, as those are the closest international airports to the area. From there, they can continue their travel to the capital either by train through the Northern Line, or by other modes of land transport through the Inter-Samudera Expressway.

Land
Bandar Raja is strategically located on the route of the Inter-Samudera Expressway, a national highway that connects the southern and northern parts of the Samuderan peninsula. Northern Line, a railway line constructed for the same purpose, also goes past the city limit, with Persatuan Station serving commuters from Bandar Raja and nearby municipalities. Journey by train from either Palembang and Medan Putera usually takes less than 30 minutes.

The main mode of public transport in the city is the city bus system, with around 10 bus stops within the federal territory. It is operated by the local authority of Putrajaya, and it serves both the city and the several areas in the neighbouring municipalities of North Indrapura and Sekayu. Because of its proximity to the city of Indrapura, Bandar Raja bus system is run in coordination with the local authority of Indrapura, who also operates its own bus services throughout the neighbouring regions that makes up its metropolitan area.

International Relations
Bandar Raja maintains a sister city relationship with the following cities:
 * Anara, Eraman
 * Pemecutan Puri, Pemecutan
 * Amarelda, Acastanha
 * Kiambang, Sendhang
 * Khurtubh, Southern Palm Islands