This is an archipelago that is in the middle of east and west Malaysia, yet very little is known about it. I always wonder why it is an Indonesia territory and not Malaysian territory? Isn't it closer to us than Indonesia? Riau is so far away from it. Does anyone here know its history?

^Hey I always wondered about that too....
I tried googleling it...but nothing came out about the history....
I reckon Natuna islands is the most obvious strategic island Indonesia's has,we could put a naval base, submarine base, ballistic missile base, a fortress, an airfield, long range artillery and make the whole island a threat to neighbouring countries.....

So tell me when you get anything...

I have been wondering this since I was very small, since the day I started to understand Malaysia geography, I always wonder what is that big island in the middle of the sea, I always wonder why no Malaysians talk about it, it is also not mentioned anywhere in any Malaysian history textbooks.

The Dutch and the British made a treaty that divide the Johor Sultanate, everything north to Singapore will belong to British and everything south will belong to Dutch, Natuna is north of Singapore, so it should belong to Malaysia or Singapore right? Why is it part of Riau, Riau is so far away from it, it takes at least 2 hours to fly there by plane.

I don't know about its history, since I can't find it anywhere on the net or any textbooks around me, but I highly doubt the Dutch ever controlled that island, if that is the case, why Malaysia never claimed it?

Yeah...., come to think about it, Peninsular and East Malaysian territory are not connected at all, separated into two entity by our Natuna. Which means Malaysian ships and airplane must went through Indonesian water and airspace everytime they went to connect to Sarawak and Sabah.

I think Natuna is beast situated to be Indonesian naval base, in respond of hypotheticly "northern invasion" since its located in north most Indonesian reach on South China Sea.

Natuna island is long known to belongs to Riau Sultanate, not Johor. The boundary separated Johor and Riau sultanate are not based on north-south latitude thingy, if that what it was...., then North Sumatra and Aceh are located northwest from singapore, did it belongs to British in British-Dutch treaty...?

Its was based on each sultanate expansion towards the sea/islands, and I guess Riau are went ahead in exploring and claiming surrounding islands in malaccan strait and south china sea rather than its Johor counterparts.

Btw, if Malaysia can afford to pick a war with Indonesia, they might try to claim it.... and I bet that aint pretty....

Someone informed me (although I am really not sure) that Natuna Islands claim were actually contested between Indonesia and newly-formed Malaysia/Malaya in the 60's. In fact to appeased President Sukrano, Tunku actually give the islands to Indonesia. Can anyone please verify this claim?