Original: In 1999 the North Maluku ( Maluku Utara ) and Halmahera Tengah ( Central Halmahera ) regencies were split off as a separate province , so the islands are now divided between two provinces , Maluku and North Maluku .
Simplified: In 1999 the North Maluku ( Maluku Utara ) and Halmahera Tengah ( Central Halmahera ) regency were split off as a separate province .