Batam is an Indonesian island located just south of Singapore. The island is administratively part of the Riau Islands province, but it has a much different character than the other islands in the province. Batam is the closest major Indonesian island to Singapore, and it has developed into a major industrial center.
The island was originally settled by the Malay people, and it was an important center for the spice trade. The Portuguese, Dutch, and British all fought over Batam …