Sultans of Swing (States), the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation of 1963: Federation of Malaya
The 1960s saw the rise of a new power in Southeast Asia, as the newly-formed Malaysia sought to establish itself as a beacon of stability and progress in the region. Comprised of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and parts of Borneo, including Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia was a federation of diverse peoples and cultures, united under the leadership of Tunku Abdul Rahman. The nation's formation was supported by its fellow Commonwealth members, including Australia and New Zealand, who saw Malaysia as a bulwark against the spread of communism in the region. However, the path to nationhood was not without its challenges, as Malaysia faced opposition from its powerful neighbor, Indonesia, led by the charismatic and unpredictable President Sukarno.
Sukarno viewed the formation of Malaysia as a neo-colonial construct, designed to maintain British influence in the region. Sukarno believed that the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak in the new Malaysian federation was a violation of the principles of anti-colonialism and self-determination. In response, Indonesia launched a campaign of confrontation aimed at destabilizing the new nation and asserting Indonesian dominance in the region. The Commonwealth nations, including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, found themselves drawn into the conflict, as they sought to support their newly-independent partner and maintain stability in Southeast Asia. The stage was set for a bitter struggle that would test the resolve of the Commonwealth and shape the future of the region for years to come.
Chair:
Markandeya Karthik
Crisis Manager:
Reesa Bhowmik
Markandeya Karthik (though most call him Mark) is a member of Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service class of 2026. He is majoring in International Economics, minoring in Chinese, and pursuing an honors certificate in International Business Diplomacy. He was born in Bangalore, India, and grew up in Hong Kong. Mark began doing Model UN at Georgetown his freshman year, participating in BarMUN, UNCMUNC, and ChoMUN, and staffing at NCSC 50, NAIMUN 60 and NAIMUN 61. In addition, he was Director of Business Development at NCSC 51. Outside of MUN, Mark helps lead the Industrials team in the Georgetown Impact Investing Group and is a consultant for DCivitias, a club that provides services for non-profits in the DMV area. In his free time, you can find Markandeya roaming M Street and Wisconsin Avenue in search of a new coffee shop to fuel his caffeine addiction, locked in his dorm room practicing his guitar, or (regrettably?) sprucing up his LinkedIn profile. Markandeya is honored to chair for Sultans of Swing (States) at NCSC 52 and can’t wait to see everyone in DC in November!
Reesa Bhowmik is a member of the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s class of 2026, majoring in International Economics, with double minors in Justice & Peace Studies and Global Development Studies. Born in Mumbai and raised in Singapore, Reesa has always been extremely passionate about Asian history. At Georgetown, Reesa competes on the collegiate circuit with team GUMUN and has served as the Director of Delegate Affairs for NCSC LI, and as a chair at NAIMUN LXI. Besides Model UN, Reesa is on the board of Delta Phi Epsilon, Georgetown’s Professional Foreign Service Sorority, and dances in Rangila, a South Asian dance show. In her limited free time, Reesa enjoys swimming, painting, and long walks on Key Bridge. Reesa is honored to be a Crisis Manager at NCSC LII and can’t wait to meet everyone!
Grand Crisis Manager:
Tony Yuan Li
Tony Li is a member of the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s class of 2025, majoring in International Political Economy. Tony was born in Singapore and has spent most of his life on the sunny island, briefly spending a few years abroad in Beijing. At Georgetown, Tony competes with the school’s Model UN team and has also served as an Under-Secretary-General for JCCs in NCSC 51 and Crisis Manager for NAIMUN 61. Aside from Model UN, Tony spends his time organizing events for Club Singapore, playing Mahjong with friends, and getting his Duolingo streak up for Indonesian. Tony is honored to be serving as the Grand Crisis Manager for Sultans of Swing (States), and hopes to give delegates an unforgettable NCSC experience!
USG: Michelle Giovinazzo
This committee is in the Joint-Crisis Organ, and your Under-Secretary General is Michelle Giovinazzo. Committees in this organ are small, interactive crisis committees with joint elements between two competing sides.
If you have any questions about your committee, please reach out to m.giovinazzo@modelun.org.