Natuna Regency, is one of the regencies in Riau Islands Province, Indonesia. Natuna is the northernmost island in the Karimata
strait. In the north, Natuna borders Vietnam and Cambodia, bordering South Sumatra and Jambi in the south, in the west with Singapore, Malaysia, Riau and in the east with East Malaysia and West Kalimantan.

Natuna is in the international shipping lanes of Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. This district is famous for producing oil and gas. Natuna’s petroleum reserves are estimated to reach 14,386,470 barrels, while natural gas is 112,356,680 barrels. Natuna Regency was formed based on Law No. 53 of 1999 from the results of the expansion of Riau Islands Regency consisting of 6 Districts namely Bunguran Timur District, Bunguran Barat, Jemaja, Siantan, Midai and Serasan and one Subdistrict of Tebang Ladan.

NATUNA HISTORY

In the 7th century in the Western hemisphere of the Archipelago stood the Srivijaya Maritime kingdom with a trading fleet that
controlled the northern shipping lanes through the South China Sea, west through the Malaka Strait and east of the Java Sea. A Chinese priest named I TSING in 671 AD stopped at the Srivijaya Kingdom about his journey to Sriwijaya in his book: Ta Tang Si Yu Qiu Fa Gao Seng Chuan (Pastor’s Note Demanding Science in Tang Dynasty) and Nan Hai Ji Gui Nei Fa Chuan (Buddhist teachings sent from the South Sea).

Among them tells about the sea journey I Tsing in the South China Sea has stopped at the cluster of islands, there are big ones there are small ones. The Big Island in the language is called NAN DAO. NAN means South and DAO means Island, so that means South Island. Starting with the title NAN DAO, Natuna’s history began. After experiencing the ups and downs of the Srivijaya kingdom, it was withdrawn and replaced by the Majapahit kingdom in the land of Java. The entire archipelago was subdued by Majapahit’s work and the South Island (Natuna now).

Majapahit sailors on their way to China, Siam, Campa, Cambodia and Annam (Vietnam) always stop by Natuna Island, a heavily
forested island, many of which are Serindit birds, small parrots / cockatoos. Therefore, Pulau Besar turned into a Serindit Island. On
this island there are several places where there are residents of Segeram, Selaun and Setahas.

After Malacca fell into the hands of the Portuguese Son of Sultan Mahmud Syah I namely Sultan Allaudin Riayat Syah established
the Kingdom of Johor In 1530-1564 AD was a continuation of the Kingdom of Malacca. During the reign, they placed or appointed
Datuk Kaya-Datuk Kaya as the representative of Serindit Island (current Natuna), namely Jemaja Islands (Datok Amar Lela), Siantan Islands (Datok Kaya Dewa Perkasa), Serindit Island (Datuk Kaya Indra Hero) ), and Sabda / Tambelan Island (Datuk Kaya Timbalan Siamah). During the reign of Sultan Allaudin Riayat Syah III (Th.1597-1655 AD) ordered in Johor.

The Sultan of Johor had a daughter named Engku Patimah who had suffered from paralysis from childhood. Because the Sultan
felt ashamed, the Sultan decided to throw his daughter away. It was secretly prepared by the Johor palace for completeness of derparture, namely 7 pilgrims (boats) with all the equipment, including the bodyguard and his hostess, who numbered 40 people.

After the preparation is complete, then leave the Princess Engku Patimah with a Crown. After days of wandering the sea without
aim, the procession of Princess Engku Fatimah arrived on the islands of Siantan and they took the opportunity to rest on these
islands. After they were rested, they immediately continued their journey. For days they sailed the sea and arrived at the procession of Putri Engku Fatimah in Tanjung Galing Pulau (Sabang Mawang).

After seeing a place to live less satisfactorily, they decided to continue the voyage to Segeram. Finally the procession was
stranded at Kukup (Sand island) or Jalik in the estuary of Segeram river, and from here the boats entered the Segeram River and
anchored near a village. Hearing the arrival of Engku Putri Fatimah from the Johor sultan on Serindit Island, Datuk Kaya
Indra Pahlawan came to pray

Given the arrival of the princess bringing the royal crown that commanded the Sultan of Johor, Datuk Kaya Indar Pahlawan
gladly gave up the power of the princess. The submission was received by the island with pleasure from Engku Putri Fatimah
and invited her people to build a new government.

 

Around the year 1610 AD the arrival of Engku Fatimah on Serindit Island according to history, in Segeram there was a person who was given the title Demang Megat, whose origin was actually not known with certainty. The story tells that this Demang Megat is a person who drifted above the raft of a reed or auric reed, and the raft was carried away by the current and into the Segeram River.

In the marriage ceremony Megat was given the title of Rich Man Serindit Dina Mahkota. The purpose of Dina is derived from the
situation in Engkur Putri Fatimah herself who felt herself insulted because she was paralyzed and discarded by her Sultan’s father
and father to the distant Serindit Island with a Royal Crown. So, around the year 1610 AD since the arrival of Engku Fatimah to
Serindit Island and after the Demang Megat was titled Rich Man.Serindit Dina Mahkotam began the self-governing Serindit Island
of the kingdom of Johor for the power of Engku Putri Fatimah centered on Segeram.

Megat ordered his people to make a mahligai where Engku Putri Fatimah resided. Mahligai is made from Bungur wood, so from
the name of Bungur wood, Serindit Island is renamed Bunguran Island. Starting from the habit of Chinese pastor I Tsing called the
big island with the name Nan Toa, and by the tongue of Malay people call it Natuna until now.