According to newly declassified documents, Dindings was handed over to the British through the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 and officially became part of the Straits Settlements in the same year. However, its status often slipped from mainstream historical records.
History experts from the University of Malaya stated that Dindings was an important administrative center for the British, especially in efforts to combat piracy in the Malacca Strait. However, it was later returned to Perak in 1935, causing its identity as a Straits territory to fade away.
"Many are unaware that Dindings was part of the Straits Settlements. It is a lost chapter in our history," said a researcher involved in this discovery.
This archival discovery has sparked new interest among local historians to re-examine Dindings' role in the economic and political development of the region. Many hope that Pangkor Island will now receive the appropriate recognition as part of the heritage of the Straits Settlements.
Educational implications are also significant, where history textbooks may need to be updated to include Dindings as the fourth territory. This will provide a more complete perspective on British colonial administration in Malaya.