POS MALAYSIA TO ISSUE MORE SPECIAL STAMPS

KUANTAN, Oct 19 (Bernama) -- Pos Malaysia will roll out more special stamp
collections to commemorate the country's history and traditions, Information
Communication and Culture Minister Dr Rais Yatim said.

He said Pos Malaysia would issue between 14 and 18 special stamps a year,
depicting the country's important events.

"We will issue stamps, for instance, to commemorate the 1Malaysia vision, the
Malay language as the national language and other important occasions," he told
reporters after attending the launching of stamps and first day cover, featuring
east coast state of Pahang heritage, in conjunction with Ruler of Pahang Sultan
Ahmad Shah's 80th birthday on Oct 24, here Monday night.

He said that postage stamps, introduced for the first time in Malaya in 1885,
proved to be a distinctive medium to document the country's history and
progress.

Rais, who is a stamp collector, hoped that the special stamp collections would
rekindle the stamp collecting hobby among the people especially the younger
generation.

In his speech, Rais said Pos Malaysia recorded an annual revenue of RM8 million
from the sale of stamps including for postage, for use in agreement documents
and in hire-purchase deal. (US$1=RM3.10)

Sultan Ahmad Shah launched the special stamps in 60 sen, 80 sen and RM1
variants, depicting the Pahang royal paraphernalia, fabric weaving art, the
royal seal and his portrait as well as that of Sultanah of Pahang Sultanah
Kalsom.

The first day cover is sold at 30 sen while the folder is priced at RM5.50.
-- BERNAMA