In 1999 the North Maluku ( Maluku Utara ) and Halmahera Tengah ( Central Halmahera ) regency were split off as a separate province . The islands are now divided between two provinces , Maluku and North Maluku . Maluku is one of the first provinces of Indonesia , proclaimed in 1945 until 1999 , when the Maluku Utara and Halmahera Tengah Regencies were split off as a separate province of North Maluku .