WI Singapore had more islands under its soveriegnty?

[Musadutoe]

What if Singapore encompassed more than Singapore Island itself and a few outlying islands, but also included the following islands in this order; Batam, Bintan, Bulan, Rempang, Galang and Sugi.

This thread has two if not more possible directions;

• What would Singapore be like today if all or some of the islands referenced above were considered part of the Republic of Singapore?
• What would have had to happen differently in order for these islands to have been a part of Singapore and not Indonesia?

Disclaimer: I am an unapologetic fan of Singapore.

 

[Musadutoe]

Mods, please move thread to Alternate History Discussion: After 1900

 

[Arkenfolm]

I'd say this belongs in pre-1900 since the best way to do this is to have a pre-1900 POD.

To get the islands you're talking about (the Riau Islands), the British would need to be in position to gain all of the Johor Sultanate and not partition it with the Dutch back in the early 19th century.

The question, would the islands be part of the Straits Settlement? If they were, then that would change the ethnic and religious makeup of the area quite a bit. Would this result in Singapore becoming another part of Malaysia in this case?

 

[Musadutoe]

To get the islands you're talking about (the Riau Islands), the British would need to be in position to gain all of the Johor Sultanate and not partition it with the Dutch back in the early 19th century

The question, would the islands be part of the Straits Settlement? If they were, then that would change the ethnic and religious makeup of the area quite a bit. Would this result in Singapore becoming another part of Malaysia in this case?

So the first POD is for the Riau Islands not the be portioned back to the Dutch in the early 19th century.

 

[Neoteros]

An easier POD would be to keep the Straits Settlements together: Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands, Labuan and Penang are all islands.