125 Years Anniversary Keretapi Tanah Melayu (22nd Jul 2010)

Starting with the opening of the first 12.5 km track from Taiping to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang), Perak on 1st June 1885, the railway service in Malaysia is reaching 125 years of age by 1 June 2010. It evolves from steam locomotive to electric-powered train, and from single track to electrified double track, KTM Berhad is determined to become the heartbeat of the nation which stays relevant and on track in moving 1 Malaysia.

T Class Steam Locomotive (32101)
The T Class steam locomotive was made by the W.G. Bagnall Limited, England in 1927. The first locomotive was acquired in 1929 and it last ran in 1964. The existing engine has been contributed to the Malaysia National Museum in May 1975.

21 Class Locomotives
Class 21 Diesel Hydraulic locomotive engine was manufactured by Kisha Seizo Kaisha Ltd, Japan. The first engine was attained in 1965 and the last engine, train no. 21102 was last used in 1994.

83 Class Electric Multiple Unit (EMU)
The train is among the first electric train introduced in Malaysia. Class 83 EMU is a South Korean made engine, manufactured by the Marubeni/Hyundai Corporation. The first EMU was acquired in 1997 and still operates until present under the KTM Komuter Services.

91 Class Electric Train Set (ETS)
This train is the latest and most modern electric train owned by KTM Berhad. Class 91 ETS is made by Hyundai-Rotem Corporation, South Korea. The train is able to run at its maximum speed of 160km/h, by far the fastest running train on the one meter gauge. The first unit was received in December 2009 and the final one arrived in April 2010. ETS is expected to run commercially by July 2010 for the Seremban – Kuala Lumpur – Ipoh route.



26 Class Locomotive (Blue Tiger)
The Class 26 High Powered locomotive is a German Made engine, manufactured by the General Electric – Bombardier. The first engine was purchased in 2003 and the series is still being used until present. This engine is one of the most resent and modern locomotive owned by KTM Berhad, and is used by the cargo services.

Temerloh – Class 56
Class 56 locomotive is the last steam engine used in Malaysia (1939 – 1946). Manufactured by the North British Locomotive Company Ltd, Glasgow, there were 39 locomotives in operations in Malaysia during the era. The engine named Temerloh with the number 564.36 is the last steam locomotive which ran in 1997 and the only surviving unit.

20 Class Locomotive
Class 20 Diesel locomotive was made by the English Electric, Vulcan Foundry, England. The first locomotive was obtained in 1957 and the service was launched on 31 July 1957. The engine was last used in 1992. A unit of the train is put on display at Shah Alam Museum, Selangor.

Mata Wang Malaysia : Malaysian Currency (18th Jan 2010)

Bank Negara Malaysia was established on January 26, 1959 under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 1958. On June 12, 1967, the Malaysia dollar, issued by Bank Negara Malaysia, replaced the Malaya and British Borneo dollar at par. The new currency retained all denominations except the $10,000 denomination, and also brought over the colour schemes of the old dollar. Over the course of the following decades, changes were made on the notes and coins issued, from the introduction of the M$1 coin in 1967, the demonetization of M$500 and M$1000 notes during the 1990s.

COINS

First series (1967)

The first series of sen coins were introduced in 1967 in denominations of 1 sen, 5 sen, 10 sen, 20 sen, 50 sen, followed by the introduction of the 1 ringgit coin in 1971. The 50 sen coin is the only coin in the series to undergo the minor design modification on its edge in 1971 to include “Bank Negara Malaysia” letterings.

Second series (1989)

The second series of coins enters circulation in late-1989. Changes include the inclusion of a hibiscus, the national flower on Malaysia, on the upper half of the obverse, and the depiction of items of cultural items on the reverse. On December 7, 2005, the 1 ringgit coin was demonetized and withdrawn from circulation.

CURRENCY NOTES

First series (1967)

Bank Negara Malaysia launched its first local currency notes in 1967, in values of $1, $5, $10, $50 and $100. The $1,000 currency notes were launched in 2 September 1968. The obverse was printed with the portraits of the first DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. At the reverse was the BNM emblem with decorated geometry as the background.

Second series (1982)

On 1 September 1982, Bank Negara Malaysia launched its second series currency notes. All notes were covered with new design and featured Malaysia’s culture. Two additional new denominations (RM20 and RM500) were launched at the same time. The tiger watermark image on the old notes has been replaced byte portraits of the first DYMM Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Third series (1996)

The third series was issued with designs in the spirit of Wawasan 2020 in denominations of RM2, RM5, RM10, RM50 and RM100. In 2000, the RM1 note was reintroduced, replacing the RM2 note and the RM1 coin. In 2004, a new RM5 polymer banknote with a distinctive transparent window was also issued.

Istana-Istana DiRaja : Royal Palaces (18th July 2011)

Book of Stamps features a compilation of the Royal Palaces in Malaysia. As there are many royal palaces in Malaysia, this stamp issuance features the official palace of the Sultan of each state in Malaysia. Each palace featured in a stamp valued at RM1 has different and unique architecture features and design.

Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Istana Negara is the official residence of His Majesty, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and Her Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong. It was built on a 28 acre site and located at Jalan Istana opposite the Jalan Syed Putra, Kuala Lumpur. Besides held for the Installation Ceremony of His Majesty Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, it also serves as a Royal banquet hall, installation ceremony, investiture ceremonies and the taking of oaths by the government ministers and state governors.

Istana Besar Seri Menanti, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus
The Seri Menanti Palace situated in Negeri Sembilan is the official residence of the DYMM Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan. This new palace was completely constructed in 1931 to replace the previous Seri Menanti Palace.

Istana Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan
The Shah Alam Palace is situated in Klang, Selangor. Its construction was completed in 1960 on the site of the Mahkota Palace which was demolished in 1958. All official functions and ceremonial of Selangor royalty such as the proclamation, installation and coronation are held in this palace.

Istana Arau, Perlis Indera Kayangan
Istana Arau was beautifully nestled as an emblem for Perlis monarchy, the only state in Malaysia that used ‘Raja’ for the state ruler. This palace is located in Arau, the Royal Town in Perlis. It was built around year 1905 to 1945 during the reign of Almarhum Tuanku Raja Syed Alwi Jamalullail, the former King of Perlis the Fourth who reside before in ‘Rumah Kuning’ near the palace. This palace is a venue for official functions such as investiture ceremonies, served as a state banquet and also for acceptance of the chief departments, Members of Parliament, foreign ambassadors and honored guests.

Istana Maziah, Terengganu Darul Iman
Istana Maziah is the official palace of the Sultan of Terengganu. It is located at the foot of Bukit Puteri in Kuala Terengganu. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Zainal Abidin III and was built to replace Istana Hijau which was destroyed in a fire. The Palace is the official venue for important functions such as coronation ceremony and royal birthdays, weddings, conferment of titles and receptions for local and foreign dignitaries.

Istana Anak Bukit, Kedah Darul Aman
Istana Anak Bukit is the largest palace in the northern peninsular Malaysia. It is located in Anak Bukit, the royal town of Kedah Darul Aman. It is the royal palace and an official residence to the Sultan of Kedah Darul Aman, Kebawah D.Y.M.M. Tuanku Sultan Haji Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah. In conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations for the 50th years of the reign of the Sultan Kedah Darul Aman, a construction of new building was completed in October 2007 which could accommodate 1,400 people at any one time.

Istana Balai Besar, Kelantan Darul Naim
Built by Sultan Muhammad II in 1840, Istana Balai Besar was originally built to replace his palace at Saba Island which was destroyed by erosion and flood. However, it is now used as an official office for The Sultan of Kelantan as well as a venue for official state functions. Istana Balai besar is the oldest palace in Kelantan and also one of the oldest Malay palaces in Malaysia.

Istana Abu Bakar, Pahang Darul Makmur
Istana Abu Bakar, an official palace for Sultan Pahang is situated in Royal Town of Pekan, Pahang and nearby the sites of Istana Seri Terentang. The construction starts in 1965 and completed its construction in 1974. Design of the palace was done by a Chinese architect and it’s more to modern design. This palace is now the residence of Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah.

Istana Besar, Johor Darul Takzim
Istana Besar constructed in 1866 became the seat of government with the establishment of a state council and offices. It is the birthplace of UMNO in 1946. It houses the Royal Abu Bakar Museum showcasing a wide collection of royal heirloom and artifacts of the Johor Empire from the 16th century.

Istana Iskandariah, Perak Darul Ridzuan
The Iskandariah Palace is situated at Bukit Chandan, Perak on the former site of National Palace. This palace is the official residence of the Rulers of Perak since its completion in 1933. The architecture of this palace is similar to the Islamic Indian ‘saracenic’ blended together with the West Asian architecture such as the pointed arch, design on the minaret and onion shaped domes.

100 Tahun Penerbangan : 100 Years of Aviation (7th July 2011)

1911 – 2011 : 100 YEARS OF AVIATION

The year 2011 marks the centennial celebration of aviation in Malaysia. The first attempt of flight in Malaya was made as early as 1898. A balloonist leapt from the top of a government building at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (formally known as Batu Road), Kuala Lumpur and crash landed at the edge of the Selangor Padang.

The Birth of Aviation

The first recorded flight performed by G.P. Fuller, who landed his Antoinette Monoplane at the race course in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur in 1911, marks the birth of aviation in Malaya. Thirteen years later, the first civil aircraft in Malaya – a Fokker FVII of Koninkujke Luchvaat Maaeschapaj (KLM) – landed on a bumpy grass in Alor Setar, Kedah. In 1928, Alor Setar becomes the center of aviation activities in Malaya when KLM operated regular fortnightly services. Alor Setar and Taiping were the first two British-built airstrips in Malaya.

Aviation first come to Kuala Lumpur on 10 May 1929 when an inaugural meeting of the Malayan Aeroplane Club (later become the Kuala Lumpur Flying Club) was held in the Malay States Volunteer Reserve Mess.

Commercial aviation in Malaya was introduced in 1930 when the Imperial Airways started its ‘flying boat’ operation at Penang’s Gelugor Marine Station. An Imperial Airways’ Armstrong Whitley Atlanta aircraft ‘Aurora’ that landed at Sungei Besi Airfield was the first commercial aircraft offering international service.

Era of Aviation Development

The development of aviation in Malaya started in 1956 when the Kuala Lumpur Airport at Sungei Besi was propelled to international status with its first flight to Europe. The Federation of Malaya joined the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 1957. By the end of 1957 it had 8 airports in Malaya, which was established at Sungei Besi, Penang, Alor Setar, Taiping, Ipoh, Malacca, Kuala Terengganu and Kuantan.

In 1963, Malaya Airways Limited was renamed as Malaysian Airways Limited. The Subang International Airport was officially opened in 1965. In 1966, Malaysia-Singapore Airways (MSA) was formed before Malaysian Airlines System (MAS) was officially launched to the skies in 1972.

The Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) was given the status of a self-accounting agency under the Ministry of Transport (MOT) in 1975 as the regulator of civil aviation industry. In 1992, Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB) was formed to operate, manage and maintain 5 international airports, 14 domestic airports and 15 short take-off and landing (STOL) ports.

Era of Aviation Excellence

The era of aviation excellence in Malaysia started with the official opening of KL International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang in August 1998. Since its inauguration, KLIA has been voted World’s Best Airport four times and has emerged as one of the top five airports in the world. The KLIA is also the home of two Malaysia’s biggest and award-winning airlines, Malaysia Airline System (MAS) and Air Asia.

On 23 March 2006, the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) was specifically built at KLIA to cater for low-cost airlines, especially Malaysia’s first ‘no-frills’ airline, AirAsia. It was voted the Center of Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Low Cost Airport of the year 2006. Due to growing demand, a new permanent LCCT, capable of handling up to 45 million passengers per annum, is under construction and is expected to be operational by 2012. Air Asia has since expanded its route network that spans through 20 countries through Air Asia-X and has received numerous national and international awards.

The establishment of MAS and AIROD in the 70’s had then further supported commercial and military aviation activities. Although the initial activities were evolving around maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), this eventually progressed into aviation manufacturing and assembling works in the 90’s through the production of Malaysian-made MD-3 and Eagle 150B two-seater light aircraft. With the transformation of Subang Airport into Malaysia International Aerospace Center (MIAC), Malaysia has staked a claim in the global MRO industry.

Today, Malaysia has made significant achievements in international civil aviation. It has advanced its international standing at par with other develop nations such as the U.S. and United Kingdom. Since its first bid in 2007, Malaysia has been elected a member on the Council of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – a specialized agency under the United Nations responsible for the formulation of international civil aviation regulations, and standards and recommended practices.

Keluaran Bersama MALAYSIA-INDONESIA Joint Issue (8th Aug 2011)

The stamp issue is produced to promote greater understanding and goodwill amongst the people of the two nations who have much in common and to look back on our respective histories with the aspiration towards achieving our shared destiny of peace, progress and prosperity.

National Monument of Malaysia & Indonesia
Unveiled in 1966, the Tugu Negara is a memorial to those who have given their lives for the freedom of Malaysia. And in Central Jakarta, Indonesia stands the Proclamation Monument which features images of the first President Soekarno and the vice-president Mohamad Hatta at the reading of the Proclamation of Independence of Indonesia.

Currency of Malaysia & Indonesia
Malaya issued her first currency note in 1959. Reflecting the agrarian economy at the time, the first one dollar note featured a sailboat being hauled ashore by a crew of fishermen. Indonesia’s first currency note, Oeang Republik Indonesia was introduced on 3rd October 1946 during a difficult time. Later when the Japanese and Dutch currencies were phased out, a more stable system was introduced.

First Stamp Issued After Merdeka
Malaya’s first stamp was a 10-cent denomination featuring Malaya’s first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the foreground and an endearing crowd of Malayans in the background. Indonesia’s first stamps with native scenes incorporated into the design such as rice cultivation with the aid of a buffalo and images of native dancers were introduced in the 1930s.

The Red & Green Jungle Fowl
Two unique jungle fowls complete the setenant strip in this joint issue. The Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus) is the ancestor of the domesticated chicken while the green jungle fowl (Gallus varius), a unique bird also known as bekisar, and endemic only to Java and a few of the islands such as Flores, Lombok and Komodo, represents the wildlife of Indonesia.

Khazanah Seni Visual Negara Siri II : Treasures of the Nation's Visual Arts (19th Sept 2011)

The National Art Gallery (NAG) is a public institution that houses the best in modern and contemporary Malaysian visual artworks. Since its inception in 1958, the NAG has in its collection about 3,926 pieces of works of various genres. The pieces chosen here are the works of three famous pioneers of Malaysian art with research materials and represented in aesthetically rich design. The works are related to the themes of struggle based on the artists’ optimism towards cultures, surroundings and everyday living.

Mohd Hossein Enas takes the subject of multiculturalism to symbolize the idea of Unity and the sense of pride in preserving tradition. This can be seen in the painting ‘Bajau Horseman, North Borneo’ which displayed an identity that was formed by tradition, culture and the natural surroundings that is the pride of every independent individuals.

Anthony Lau presents his metal sculpture entitled ‘Ayam Jantan’ as a symbol of pride, shield and strength to an independent individual’s right of freedom.

The struggle and freedom for Nik Zainal Abidin Nik Salleh through his work ‘Corak Bendera-Flag’, must be preserved and protected like clothes on the body. The defense must be guided by the lines and colours of the banners of nationhood.

Perahu Tradisi : Traditional Boats of Malaysia (15th Apr 2000)

All four Malaysian boats are from the East Coast and are attractive in terms of their traditional value. They are able to sail the open seas, each accommodating up to 20 people.

Their unique shapes and colors are believed by some to have Patani influence. The decorations display unusual motifs depicting fishermen’s lives. Their use today has become limited following new technological advancements in fishing methods.

Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa : Grand Knight of Valour (31st Jul 2010)

The Grand Knight of Valour award, locally referred to as Darjah Kebesaran Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (S.P) is in the form of a silver medal in the shape of a crescent moon with three layers. In the middle layer is the inscription “Gagah Perkasa”, with the moon is the fourteen-pointed star. Both end of the crescent moon is linked by a carving design where it is attached to a 38.1mm yellow ribbon with 3.2mm red strips on both sides. The Grand Knight of Valour award was created on 29 July 1960 and was gazette on 11 August 1969.

It is the highest bravery award which can be presented in Malaysia and also the highest award in the federal ranking of awards. This award can also be awarded to a person who has passed away (posthumous). Up till today, 26 heroes have been awarded the Grand Knight of Valour. Out of the 26, 11 of the recipients are still alive. The late Mr Veloo a/l Rajavelu was the first recipient of the Grand Knight of Valour in 1963 for his bravery and spirit to foil the robbery in Klang in August 1962.

Ayam Katik : Malaysian Bantams (1st Aug 2001)

Malaysian bantams, especially the Serama Bantam, and the Kapan Bantam are highly valued for their ornamental properties. Competitions are frequently held by local bantam enthusiasts; the champion is picked principally on overall beauty, poise, gait and other attractive physical attributed. The rearing of bantams for their spectacular beauty will remain a popular pastime for many years to come.

Sukan SEA XXI : XXI SEA Games (8th Sept 2001)

The Flame

A universal symbol of passion and excellence, the weaving flame, representing the colours in the Malaysian flag, symbolizes a united region and the coming together of Southeast Asia’s best athletes. The rings at the tip of the flame representing the logo of the Southeast Asia Games Federation.

Si Tumas – The Mascot

Si Tumas, the fun-loving, energetic, fast-moving and friendly squirrel is a suitable mascot of the SEA Games. Its gold colouring signifies winning; it’s name SI is phonetically similar to SEA and is a friendly form pf address in Malay. TU is the first part of Tupai, which is Squirrel in Malay and MAS comes from the word EMAS, gold in Malay, hence SI TUMAS.