With the orang laut pirates as allies, Srivijaya controlled the Straits of Melaka (known in colonial times as Malacca), a key link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
The pirates kept to themselves and chose not to join Srivijaya.
mnli hypothesis: The pirates kept to themselves and chose not to join Srivijaya. premise: With the orang laut pirates as allies, Srivijaya controlled the Straits of Melaka (known in colonial times as Malacca), a key link between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.