Clock Towers Series II Stamp

Wherever in the world they may be, clock towers fascinate us and invariably become landmarks within their respective localities. From the Russian Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower to London’s Big Ben, such towers have added aesthetical value to the landscape and skylines of cities, towns and villages across the globe. Malaysia has no shortage of these interesting and functional pieces of architecture, with many of them spread throughout the country and each with its own story to tell.

Pos Malaysia takes great pleasure in introducing more such stories in this second series on Clock Towers.

Many of Malaysia’s clock towers are of historical interest. They were built mainly during the heyday of the nation’s colonial past. Many became the most enduring aspects of the municipal buildings of which they were part. Yet others were constructed as free-standing structures, often in commemoration of an important date or event and usually located along a major thoroughfare within the town or village concerned. It was also not unusual for many of these clock towers to be built under the financial auspices of well-to-do private individuals of the Malaysian society.

The towers served their earlier purpose well, to tell time to generations of people in an era when wristwatches and house clocks were not generally the order of the day. Today, they tell of those times when they were built, when the Malaya then was dramatically different from what Malaysia has now becomes.



Technical Details

Date of Issue : 6-Jun-2007

Denomination : 30 Sen; 50 Sen; RM 1.00

Stamp Size : 30mm x 50mm

Sheet Content : 20 Stamps

Perforation : 14

Paper : SPM Watermarked, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process : Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn Bhd

Stamp Designer : Hazel Design

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Presentation Pack Value : RM 4.00

Postal Card Value : 80 Sen

Folder Value : RM 5.00




POS Malaysia 6 Jun 2007, Friday Press Release

TIMELESS COLLECTION OF MALAYSIAN CLOCK TOWERS FEATURED IN NEW STAMPS AND FIRST DAY COVER

Pos Malaysia today issued a set of special stamps and First Day Cover on “Clock Towers – Series II” on 6 June 2007. The special stamps and First Day Cover is the second series produced by Pos Malaysia and will feature the images of historical clock towers in Malaysia. YAB Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Prime Minister of Malaysia launched the stamps during the Official Opening of SMIDEX 2007 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Center (KLCC).

Many of Malaysia’s clock towers are of historical interest. They were built mainly during the heyday of the nation’s colonial past. Many became the most enduring aspects of the colonial municipal buildings of which they were part. Yet others were constructed as free-standing structures, often in commemoration of an important date or event, and usually located along a major thoroughfare within the town or village concerned. It was also not unusual for many of these clock towers to be built under the financial auspices of well-to-do private individuals of the Malayan society.

The towers served their earlier purpose well, to tell time to generations of people in an era when wristwatches and house clocks were not generally the order of the day. Today, they tell of those times when they were built, when the Malaya then was dramatically different from what Malaysia has now become.

“The historical clock towers of Malaysia have withstood the test of time to witness the changes in the nation’s chronicle from the colonial days until the present time and it is a pleasure for Pos Malaysia to portray these historical monuments in our stamps and First Day Cover. This is a continuance of Pos Malaysia’s efforts to enhance the public’s knowledge on the history of our nation through the depiction of historical buildings in our philatelic items,” said YBhg Dato’ Idrose Mohamed, Managing Director of Pos Malaysia.

The stamps, 30mm X 50mm in size, are printed in sheets of 20 on SPM watermarked, phosphor coated paper and are available in three denominations :

• 30sen : The J.W.W Birch Memorial Clock Tower, Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan
  
  This ornately constructed clock tower was built in 1909 in memory of J.W.W. Birch, the first Resident of the British colonial administration in Perak. He was assassinated in the early upsurge of Malaysian nationalism that eventually led to the nation’s freedom from colonial governance. The original presentation of the History of Civilisation around the faces of the tower, which also depicted the Prophet Muhammad, was regarded as controversial and subsequently altered in the 1970s. In spite of the change, this clock tower remained as a significant link to the nation’s past.
  

• 50sen : The Atkinson Clock Tower, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
  
  Completed in 1905, the Atkinson Clock Tower is one of the oldest buildings in Kota Kinabalu. As with many such towers constructed during the era of British Malaya, it was built in commemoration of an important member of the colonial administration. In this case, it was in memory of the first Resident of Sabah, a certain Francis George Atkinson, who unfortunately passed away at the age of 28 from malaria (curiously, called ‘Borneo Fever’ in those days). It originally also served as a lighthouse of sorts, giving positional information to vessels navigating the port of Jesselton, the old name of Kota Kinabalu.
  

• RM1.00 : Alor Setar Clock Tower, Kedah.
  
  This eye-catching clock tower was built in 1912 and bears distinctive Moorish influences which some say reflects a blend of Hindu and Islamic motifs. Located along Jalan Putera, near Masjid Zahir, the tower’s function and destiny appear closely linked with that of the mosque, with its various calls to prayer coordinated with the time as indicated on the clock face. This interesting clock tower rises aesthetically into the heights and gives the town of Alor Setar a major landmark which is both historic and visually pleasing.

Also available is a specially produced Postal Card, priced at 80sen each (inclusive of stamp) which features :

• Medan Pasar Clock Tower, Kuala Lumpur. & State Mosque of Kelantan Clock Tower, Kota Bharu
  
  The Medan Pasar clock tower was erected in 1937 in commemoration of the coronation of King George IV. The original memorial plaques were removed some time after Merdeka but the tower remains steadfast until today, right in the middle of the road, in this still very commercial and bustling old quarter of Kuala Lumpur. The sunburst motif at the base of the tower puts it in the mood and style of European art deco, not very commonly found in other clock towers.
  
  In contrast, the State Mosque of Kelantan Clock Tower is Islamic at heart, with its Moorish domes and arches. The proportions are formal and strong, lending an official air to the distinctive structure at the heart of Kota Bharu.

First Day Cover at 30sen each and Presentation at RM4.00 each, can be purchased at all post offices nationwide. Folders at RM5 each is only available at selected post offices.