Conservation of Nature Stamps

The conservation of nature is no longer an option, it is necessary to ensure that earth’s vital natural resources are preserved and protected for the future generations. Through the centuries, mankind has destroyed forests, ravaged mountain slopes, polluted water and air, and even today is ongoing. The ecology has become a victim of human activities.

Today natural resources, which provide the basic necessities of life, have become scare. They have been sacrificed in the name of development and economic well-being. The delicate ecological balance has been altered due to the indiscriminate damages inflicted upon nature. Global warming, receding water tables, depleting ozone layers, are only among some of the consequences of these damages.

Worldwide, organizations involved in the preservation of nature have taken initiatives to preserve the environment and are recommending holistic conservation strategies to ensure that natural resources are utilized in a sustainable fashion.

In Malaysia, steps have been taken by the relevant conservation organizations and authorities to ensure that our environment is well preserved. Out vast tropical rainforests, our unique marine life as well as our clean air is dependent on how we preserve and protect them. Today the conservation of nature has become a necessity of life.

Fresh Air –Conserving Air

Malaysia’s rapid emergence as an industrialized country has reaped many benefits economically. With increased development, environmental concerns have also arised and our country has to monitor the increasing air pollution. Thus, air quality monitoring is an important part of the country’s strategy in the pollution prevention program to ensure clean and fresh air for healthy living.


Go Green – Conserving Rainforests

The Malaysian rainforest is home to most of the plant and animal species in the world. However, due to deforestation, many of these species are becoming extinct. Our tropical rainforest play an important role in helping to sustain life. They act as a natural air purifier for our environment. With all the benefits that are derived from the rainforests, we must ensure they are protected.



Clean Water – Conserving Marine Life

Malaysia’s warm climate coupled with heavy rainfall makes our oceans an ideal home for a myriad of underwater marine life. However intense development has caused irreversible damages to our fragile water world. Conservation efforts are being initiated in order to protect and preserve our marine eco-system.





Technical Details

Date of Issue : 18th June 2009

Stamp Value : 30 sen, 50 sen (2 Designs)

Sheet Content : 20 Values

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation 14

Paper Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Hazel Design Sdn. Bhd.

Palm Trees Stamps

Palm are one of the most well-know and extensively cultivated plant families. Most palms are distinguished by their large evergreen leaves arranged at the top of an unbranched stem. However, many palms are exceptions to this statement, and palms in fact exhibit an enormous diversity in physical characteristics. Palms also inhibit nearly every type of habitat from rainforest to deserts. However the majority of the species are tropical or subtropical as few palms can tolerate cold weather.

Palms have been important to humans throughout much of history. Many common products and foods are derived from palms. Today palms are a common feature in botanical gardens or as indoor plants and they are widely used in landscaping for their exotic appearance and also due to palms being easy to manage plants.



Fish Tail Palm (Caryota mitis)

This palm is commonly known as Fish Tail Palm due to its fish-tail like leaves. A clump consists of a few stems of up to 3.5 metre high. Its inflorescence is a dense mass hanging downwards, The fruits are globose about 5mm in diameter and green turning red when ripe.



Fan Palm (Licuala grandis)

This solitary fan palm is named after its fan like leaves which are 50 to 60 cm in diameter with coarsely toothed edges. The petiole are 70 to 90 cm long and thorny. Its inflorescence arches 1 to 2 metre long. Flowers are yellowish whereas the fruits are globose 6 to 8 mm in diameter, green turning crimson when ripe.



Serdang Palm (Livistona saribus)

This solitary palm can still be found growing wild in the swampy forest. The trunk is straight up to between 10 and 20 metres. The fan shaped leaves about 1 metre in diameter with leaflets deeply divided. Its inflorescence is large, up to 1.5 metre with numerous branches. Flowers are yellowish, whereas the fruits are globose about 2 cm in diameter, purplish turning black when ripe.



Sal Palm ( Johannesteijsmannia altifrons)

This medium sized stemless palm is a hermaphrodite plant of up to 5 or 7 metres in height. The leaves are large, entire diamond shaped, 3 metre long and 1 metre wide. The petiole is almost the same length as the leaf and has sharp thorns. Its inflorescence is axillary, and the leaves are white in colour whereas the fruits are globose 3 to 3.5 cm in diameter, corky, very knobbly and are almost black in colour.



Serdang Endau ( Livistona endauensis)

This small to medium palmis only found in the forest of Endau-Rompin, Malaysia. the trunk is erect and slender about 20 cm in diameter, carries a crown of palmate with rather stiff segments of green leaves.

The endemic palm of Endau-Rompin is now planted in many public parks and gardens as a rare collection of palm.





Technical Details

Date of Issue : 19th May 2009

Stamp Value : 50 sen (3 Designs)

Sheet Content : 20 Values

Miniature Sheet : RM3

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation 14

Paper Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

[This issue marks the introduction of a new watermark incorporating the flying bird logo of Pos Malaysia and SPM. This watermark is easily viewed under UV light]

Printing Process Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Hazel Design Sdn. Bhd.

Engineering Excellence in Nation Building Stamp

Engineering has been an integral part in the development of many nations. Great strides have been made in the development of Malaysia ever since we gained our independence in 1957.

Closely associated with the nation's progress is The Institute of Engineers Malaysia (IEM) which was established in 1959 with the intention to reflect the independence of Malaysian engineers professionally.

In the last 50 years since its inception, IEM as the prime mover of nation building, have strived to promote sound professional engineering practice amongst its members and enhance sound professional engineering practices amongst its members and enhance society's consciousness of science and technology. The Strategic Plan drafted in 1997 was to steer the Institution towards becoming the premier professional organization that is pivotal to Malaysia achieving Vision 2020.



Transportation and Ports

Ports: Penang Port is the transshipment hub of the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand growth triangle. Port Klang has world-class facilities while the nearby Westport is reputed as the "Fastport, Flexiport and Gardenport of south-East Asia.

Air Transportation: Malaysia has 37 airports, five of which are international airports, 15 domestic airports and 17 Short Takeoff and Landing airstrips. The biggest airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) can handle 25 million passengers per annum and 1.2 million tons of cargo.

Railway: Peninsular Malaysia is served by railway lines which link the country with Thailand and Singapore as well as another line to the east coast state of Kelantan. The modern city of Kuala Lumpur boasts of an electric commuter train, the KTM Komuter, Light Rail Transport (LRT) and Monorail. Meanwhile, the Express Rail links the city to KLIA.



Road Bridge & Dam

Roads: With an estimated 95% of the goods transported by road, Malaysia’s modern road infrastructure has won praises from foreign investors. The modern North-South Highway and the East-West Highway make it easy to travel by road to any destination in the country.

Bridge: Bridges are an important element in establishing communication links between towns and cities that are separated by difficult terrain or rivers. The role of bridges has been important in the economic and social development of Malaysia’s enabling transportation links in moving people and goods.

Dams: The country enjoys high rainfall as well as an extensive network of more than 150 rivers that are sources of water supply. Most Malaysian buildings are served by piped water.



Telecommunication and Power

Electricity: To promote renewable energy the Government initiated the Malaysia Building Integrated Photovoltaic (MPIPV) project in July 2005 to encourage renewable energy among the public and speed up development of a sustainable local market.

Telecommunication: The National Telecommunication Policy boosted the growth of telecommunication technology and services to support the nation’s development. A multi0million ringgit high speed broadband infrastructure project focusing on the Klang Valley and the Iskandar Development Region would be implemented over the next 10 years.

Information Technology: Both the rapid development of the telecommunication infrastructure and the expansion of the electronics industry have ushered in the Information Technology era in Malaysia. The ambitious Multimedia Super Corridor has further the growth of the Information Computer Technology (ICT).



Technical Details

Date of Issue : 20th April 2009

Stamp Value : 30 sen (setenent x 2), 50 sen (setenent)

Sheet Content : 10 Setenant Pairs

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation : 14

Paper : Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process : Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Reign Associates Sdn. Bhd.


>>> Read more about "Engineering Excellence in Nation Building Stamp" <<<

World Heritage Sites Stamps

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, desert, monument, complex or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the International World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.

The goal of the program is the conservation of sites deemed to be of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humankind. UNESCO funds numerous efforts to preserve and restore sites in developing nations through the World Heritage Fund. Moreover, World Heritage designations often contribute towards the enhancement of the local economies by encouraging tourism. Each World Heritage brings a certain property of the country on whose territory the site is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve and protect each site for our future generation.

The designation as a World Heritage Site brings a certain prestige to a location and its home country. Increasing the awareness of a site and its history also increases awareness of the need to preserve and protect.

Malaysian is proud of have four sites that have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The world Heritage Inscription confirms the outstanding universal values of Malacca and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca as the cities with unique cultural assets as well as the exceptional universal conservation values of the natural sites of Kinabalu Park and Mulu National Park.



Malacca & George Town

Malacca and George town are historic cosmopolitan in the Straits of Malacca, which for more than 500 years saw the unique blending of Portuguese, Dutch, Arab, Chinese, Indian and English cultures with the local indigenous Malay culture, manifested in architectural forms and styles as well as intangible culture. the different cultural groups and traditions has helped to enrich the beautiful traditions and customs of these historic cities.

Malacca and George Town were declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008 and are listed under three cultural criteria of the World Heritage Convention: as exceptional criteria examples of multicultural trading towns permeated with many layers of historical; as living testimony to cultural and religious diversity reflected in multicultural living heritage and as townscapes of vernacular architecture - especially shop-houses and townhouses.

Note: The top corners of the stamps depict windows of the buildings featuring unique architecture with different styles and influences.



Mulu National Park

Mulu National Park, named after Mount Mulu, the second highest mountain in Sarawak received inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 for its outstanding universal values of natural environment settings by surpassing four main criteria. Its combination of alluvial clays, impressive canyon, spectacular sandstone and limestone formations, untamed rivers, serene rain forest rich in astonishing numbers of plants and animal species, imposing mountains rank among the world's most outstanding scenery and further add to the variety and specialisation of the park's biology.

Within Mulu National Park is Sarawak Chamber which is the world's largest natural underground chamber, Deer Cave which has the largest known cave passage in the world housing a staggering two million bats, the Pinnacles of Gunung Api which are up to 45 meters tall forms one of the world's most spectacular limestone landscape and Clearwater Cave, which exposes part of a long underground river going through the park.



Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park, named after Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South East Asia, received inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, which confirms its exceptional universal values of a natural site and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world.

This park is blessed with an astonishing variety of flora and fauna that ranges over 4 climate zones. The mountain is famous for its many carnivorous plants, mammals, orchid species and birds including the beautiful Scarlet Minivet featured at the top right corner of the stamp



Technical Details

Date of Issue : 9th April 2009

Stamp Value : 50 sen (4 Designs)

Sheet Content : 10 Setenant Pairs

Miniature Sheet : RM2

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation 14

Paper Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Hazel Design Sdn. Bhd.

Traditional Wedding Costumes Stamps

In today’s modern era, the Malaysian community comprising of various races and many ethnic groups still value the rich legacy of traditional costumes worn during important occasions such as weddings. Each ethnic group has their own heritage of wedding costumes that are unique in their own styles and designs.

On the most important day, the attire worn is very beautiful, special yet traditional. The Chinese and Indian couples wear red, while the Orang Ulu and Bajau are colourfully dressed and the Malay couple wears a matching outfit complete with accessories as king and queen for the day.

However, all wedding costumes are similar in that the bride and groom look outstanding and magnificent in their bright coloured and grand ensemble, complete with beautiful headdress, unique accessories and magnificent jewellery worn only during weddings.



Traditional Malay Wedding Costume

The Malay bride and groom look grand in their traditional wedding attire made of songket cloth woven in the pattern of “bunga tabur” The bride wears a “baju kebaya labuh”, a classic style costume with matching “sarung” and long shawl also made from songket. A decorative headgear and other accessories are added as the finishing for her as the queen of the day.



Traditional Chinese Wedding Costume

The Chinese bridal couple looks resplendent in the traditional wedding costume, reminiscent of a bygone era. The bride is dressed in an embroidered skirt with a matching long red silk jacket and around her neck is a large elaborately decorated detachable collar, resembling the neck feathers of the phoenix. On her head is an ornate headdress made of gilded gold and silver inlaid with kingfisher feathers and embellished with pearls and red pom-poms. The bridegroom’s wedding attire is a long embroidered dragon robe. He wears a black hat with red tassels.

The combination of the dragon and phoenix symbolizes the balance of the male and female power. Red, the favourite colour and the “double happiness” symbol shown in the background of the stamp represents luck and signifies love and prosperity.



Traditional Indian Wedding Costume

The stamp depicts an Indian bride and bridegroom in their traditional colourful wedding attire. The bride is in a beautiful silk saree and matching blouse with gold thread embroidery while the bridegroom is in his “vashtee”, a long-sleeved shirt and matching cotton cloth woven with gold thread. The bride is adorned with flowers in her hair and the garland of flowers round their neck, with flower bouquets in their hands. In the background is a picture of a garland normally used at Indian weddings.



Traditional Orang Ulu Wedding Costume

The costume for the Orang Ulu bridegroom is an embroidered bead vest and a loin-cloth. The headgear is fashioned from feathers and woven beads. The Orang Ulu bride is in a colourful sequined dress called “basung: and “ta’ah”. The head is beautifully adorned with a "lavung doh".

"Bunga Jarau", a wood ornament shown in the background of the stamp is a decorative item used at weddings.



Traditional Bajau Wedding Costume

The Bajau bridal costume is the "badu sipak"; the yellow blouse made of satin with flared sleeves, showing off an under-blouse of a contrasting hue and the "olos berangkit" which is a full length black wrap-skirt. Other interesting accessories adorn the bride such as "mandapun", a decorative ornament with stylised silver or gold leaves worn around the neckline; "serempak", a two-piece head decoration in the shape of a ship made of gilded silver and "garigai" which are small ornaments dangling down from the hair bun. Silver bangles and jewellery such as the "ingkot pangkat" or the silver coin belt and "keku"; long tapered gold fingercovers complete the finishing touch for the bride.




Technical Details

Date of Issue : 23rd March 2009

Stamp Value : 50 sen (5 Designs)

Sheet Content : 20 Stamps

Booklet : RM3

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation 14

Paper Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Hazel Design Sdn. Bhd.

Silver Jubilee of HRH The Sultan of Perak Stamp

30 sen

The stamp depicts the portrait of His Royal Highness during the installation as the 34th Sultan of Perak on 9th December 1985 at the Balairong Seri of Istana Iskandariah, Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar, Perak. The visual in the background shows His Royal Highness kissing the ceremonial sword Pedang Cura Si Manja Kini and this symbolised the regal splendour of the ceremony.

50 sen

This stamp portrays His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Shah Muhibbuddin Shah as the Head of State and the Head of the State Islamic Religion and Custom. The background features the grand and majestic architecture of Ubudiah Mosque which was once proclaimed as the most beautiful design ever built during its time. It was officially opened in 1917 by Sultan Abdul Jalil Karamatullah Shah. the Ubudiah Mosque is certainly one of the many pride possession of the state as over the years it has proven to be one of the main tourist attractions.

RM1

h The stamp depicts His Royal Highness who has reigned the state of Perak for the past 25 years. Throughout his reign the Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Bainun has evidently been a strong and loyal companion as often reflected in their constant appearances together. Both His and His Royal Highnesses represent the nation's sacred belief in family unity. The royal yellow background symbolises the nobility of the Royal Highnesses.



Technical Details

Date of Issue : 3rd February 2009

Stamp Value : 30 sen, 50 sen & RM1

Sheet Content : 20 Stamps

First Day Cover Value : 30 Sen

Perforation 14

Paper Watermarked SPM, Phosphor Coated

Printing Process Lithography

Printer : Percetakan Keselamatan Nasional Sdn. Bhd.

Designer : Teh Yew Kiang