Malaysia launches stamps for five major ethnic festivals, including Chinese New Year
According to Malaysia’s “Sihua Daily”, Malaysia Post has launched a first day cover featuring Malaysia’s five major ethnic festivals after a 7-year absence in 2012.
The stamp series with the theme "Malaysian Festival Series 3" will start on January 15 and will be put on sale at Malaysia's National Post Office.
Malaysia Post Corporation Stamps and Philatelic Officer Dijana pointed out that the post office has launched festive stamps for the first time since 2006.
"This is because the stamps issued by the post office have different themes every year. After many years, we think it is time to launch more festive stamps."
She said that the five ethnic themes this time include the Chinese Lunar New Year, the harvest festival of the Kadashan and Iban tribes, the Eid al-Fitr festival of the Malay friends and the Deepavali festival of the Indian compatriots.
"There will be 200,000 stamps for various ethnic festivals, and the authorities will also launch uniquely designed card holders for philatelic hobbyists. Only 1,800 card holders will be issued. Together with the first day cover and souvenir sheet, the entire package is RM80. There are a total of 30,000 printed first day covers."
Dijana pointed out that on the first day of sale on the 15th, the post office will allow those who purchase the supporting stamp series at the post office to receive a special postmark stamped by the post office.
Arranged by festive days
Dijana pointed out that the stamp series launched by the post office this year are arranged according to the order of the festivals of various ethnic groups throughout the year. What's interesting is that the souvenir sheet, which also covers the five major nationalities, is placed under a magnifying glass and you can see the greetings. The souvenir sheet covers the five major ethnic groups and greets the festival with traditional folk costumes and congratulatory words. Each sheet is 5 ringgits, and a total of 25,000 sheets are printed.
"Among them, this year’s Lunar New Year falls in February, and the harvest festivals of Kadashan and Iban people fall in May and June respectively. June is also about to usher in Eid al-Fitr, and Deepavali falls in October. ."
She said that with the arrival of the Lunar New Year, the stamp design this time has the atmosphere of traditional Chinese festivals. The stamps contain not only red lanterns, high piles of lions, and children setting off firecrackers.
Other stamp designs include the Tarian Sumazau, Gong and Sompoton of the Kadashan tribe, and the Yiban tribe who dance the traditional harvest festival dance (Tarian Ngajat) around the tree of life. The bamboo rice (Lemang) and Dodol (Dodol) for the Eid al-Fitr festival of the Malay friends, and the luminous lanterns and rice drawings for the Deepavali festival in India.