The island, together with neighboring Belitung, was formerly part of South Sumatra (Sumatera Selatan) province, but in 2000 the two islands became the new province of Bangka-Belitung.
A illa, xunto coa veciña Belitung, formaba parte da provincia de Sumatra do Sur (Sumatera Selatan), pero en 2000 as dúas illas convertéronse na nova provincia de Bangka-Belitung.