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 best 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?

The Natuna Islands archipelago (272 islands) is located in the Natuna Sea. The islands are officially part of the Riau Islands province of Indonesia and it is the northernmost non-disputed island groups of Indonesia. Main islands include archipelagoes of Natuna Besar, South Natuna archipelago and Tambelan archipelago, the last consisting of Badas Islands.

The South Natuna group comprises the islands of Serasan, Panjang and Subi. The Anambas archipelago, located several hundred kilometers to the west and comprising Terempa, Matak and Jemaja Andriabu island, are also sometimes included in the Natuna Islands.

Riau-Lingga was part of the Johor Sultanate. it became an independent sultanate only after the British-Dutch Treaty in 1824 which divide the Kingdom. Riau Sultanate don't enjoy the level of independence that Johor have. The Sultan rule was heavily regulated by the Dutch. In fact, this sultanate lasted less then a century. I don't see under this condition how a sultanate can explore and expand. if it were based on pre-colonial settings, Riau, Lingga, Aru, Pedir and Jambi were all part of Johor Sultanate.

if im not mistaken ,the natuna people are very similar to those people in terengganu .
they speak like terenganese.
the culture also same.

Someone mention that in a war Malaysia might be able to annex these island. I do not think so since Indonesia would never give up that area with its large gas reserves.

Map

someone who? mentally????

High finance, technology,political manoeuvres and shrewd business deal will do the trick i.e getting access to the Natural Resources@ these islands!

Petronas can do the job?

-Petronas is ranked among Fortune Global 500's largest corporations in the world. Fortune ranks Petronas as the 95th largest company in the world in 2008 and 80th largest in 2009. It also ranks Petronas as the 8th most profitable company in the world and the most profitable in Asia.

-The Financial Times has identified Petronas as one of the "new seven sisters"[5]: the most influential and mainly state-owned national oil and gas companies from countries outside the OECD.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas

So now Natuna Islands turn? :|
Next what? Annex Sumatra? Borneo? :|
Geez :|

Probably because they felt Indonesian Natuna cut Malaysia into half. West and East.
I think they can't afford waging an open war with Indonesia.
Too much risk.

That would be stupidity of the highest order.

We Malaysians are more well-verse in the art of diplomatic & business warfares. Our troops comes in form of executives armed with PDAs & sweet deals of economic sharing.