4th World Orchid Conference Singapore Malaysia

4th WORLD ORCHID CONFERENCE
It was in 1954 that the 1st World Orchid Conference was held in St. Louis, U.S.A. The American Orchid Society, Inc. sponsored it, and so grew the idea that the best and most knowledgeable orchidists of the world should meet once in three years to exchange their knowledge, to impart their ideas to the public and to get to know each other better.

The 2nd World Orchid Conference was held most appropriately in Honolulu then at the crest of its orchid wave, and it was a fine success, for it combined availability of lovely plants with a site already famous as a tourist paradise. In 1960, the Royal Horticultural Society, London, was given the opportunity of being host to the 3rd World Orchid Conference and the world saw the splendour of its annual Chelsea Flower Show. It was here that the Malayan Orchid Society's exhibit came into prominence. The bright and gay tones of Malayan orchids literally opened the eyes of the thousands who visited the exhibit. The queue in front of the 46 foot long exhibit was 12 deep and jammed tight hour after hour for the duration of the show.

This success was very largely responsible for the fact that this year Singapore is the host to the 4th World Orchid Conference.

The Conference will be held at the Victoria Theatre, beginning from Tuesday, 8th October, 1963. It will be opened by H.E. the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and will last till Friday, 11th October, 1963.

Preceding the Conference, the Malayan Orchid Society will be holding an Orchid Festival Show on the 3rd October, 1963. The Show will be held in the premises of the Singapore Turf Club. It will give an opportunity for Malaysia to show its orchids, and for professional growers and dealers to exhibit their products and wares to overseas orchidists.

The Singapore Conference is sponsored by three organizations, namely, the American Orchid Society, Inc., the Royal Horticultural Society, London, and the Malayan Orchid Society. In addition, each of these societies has underwritten the Conference against loss to the sum of nearly $50,000. Also, if there is a profit, after a token sum has been deposited into the Conference fund, all excess has been most generously promised by the American Orchid Society, Inc. to be used in Singapore as a fund for research on Malaysian orchids.

The Conference and Show will serve the purposes of showing Malaysian orchids to the world and providing opportunities for obtaining up-to-date orchid knowledge and funds for research.

Technical Details
Special postage stamps of the 6 cents and 25 cents denominations will be issued on 3rd October, 1963, to mark the 4th World Orchid Conference.

Size: 42 mm x 31 mm perforation to perforation in vertical format

Design: Orchid flowers

Colour: Orchid flowers in natural colour and different background colour of each denomination

Printing Process: Photogravure

Paper: Unwatermarked white paper

Printed by: Messrs. Joh. Enschede En Zonen, Holland

Period of Sale: Three months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier.

First Day Cover
 

The Installation of His Highness The Sultan of Perak

BIOGRAPHY OF DULI YANG MAHA MULIA SULTAN IDRIS AL-MUTAWAKIL ALLAHI SHAH, SULTAN OF PERAK
Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris is the son of a former Sultan of Perak, Sir Alang Iskandar Shah, G.C.M.G., K.C.V.O. (30th). He was born in Kuala Kangsar on 28th August, 1924. Like other members of the Perak Royalty he received his early education at Bukit Chandan Malay School and Clifford School, Kuala Kangsar, and later continued his education at the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar.

When he was only ten years old he was appointed Di-Hilir of Perak, and when his father passed away in 1938 he was raised to the rank of Raja Bendahara.

In the latter part of 1946 he was attached to the Perak Secretariat for administrative experience. During the flood in 1947 he was appointed a member of the Perak State Flood Relief Committee. This appointment gave him an outlet for his youthful energy and enthusiasm, and those who observed his untiring efforts had occasion to remark that the young prince was truly following in his enlightened father's footsteps.

Since 1947 Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris has toured all over the State, visiting every town and kampong, and studying the conditions of life and work of the raayat, and attending to their welfare.

In keeping with the functions of his high office, he has taken a keen interest in the activities of Malay organizations, extended his patronage to sports, exhorted the raayats to live harmoniously with each other as well as other races in the State, and forged a link between the State Government and kampong folks. Consequently, there is general appreciation of the fact that Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris, by his frequent tours to various parts of the State, is rendering a unique service, the possibilities of which were never fully explored before.

On the day of the funeral of the late Sultan, Sir Abdul Aziz, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris, as the Bendahara of Perak, served as chairman of the committee in charge of the funeral arrangements, and as master of ceremonies. On the same day, as the representative and Grand Vizier of the late Sultan, he had the honour of reading the proclamation announcing the appointment of the new Sultan.

On 15th July, 1948, His Late Highness Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah, at a public investiture ceremony, announced the appointment of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris as the Raja Muda of Perak.

In 1949 Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris visited the United Kingdom and stayed there till 1951 to take up a course in Local Government and Administration, Social Science and Agrarian Economics at London University. Later he worked at the Burlington Rural District Council and then at the Oxford City Council.

On his return to Malaya in 1951, he was attached to the Royal Malay Regiment at Port Dickson to undergo intensive military training. He now holds the rank of Major.

From 1951 to 1958 he served on the State Penghulus Service Committee as its Chairman.

During the Emergency he toured and visited various parts of the State in an effort to end communist terrorism. In 1952 he was awarded C.M.G. by Her Majesty the Queen and P.J.K. by His Highness the Late Sultan of Perak.

From 1952 to 1957 he served as an official member of the Perak State Executive Council. He is also an ex-officio member of the Dewan Negara, Perak, since its inception in 1953.

In 1953 he was appointed Regent when His Late Highness the Sultan visited United Kingdom. In 1956 he was appointed Chairman of the Council of Regency.

When he was Raja Muda he represented His Late Highness the Sultan at various installation and coronation ceremonies of the Sultans of Kedah, Johore, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Selangor.

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Raja Idris' main hobbies are painting, orchid planting, boating, hunting and fishing. He takes a special interest in boating and he has designed and made boats himself.

On January the 6th, 1963, he was proclaimed as Sultan Idris Al-mutawakil Alallahi Shah, Yang Di-Pertuan and Ruler of the State of Perak.

Technical Details
A special postage stamp of the 10 cents denomination will be issued on the 26th October, 1963 to mark the Installation of His Highness the Sultan of Perak.

Size: 36 mm x 25 mm perforation to perforation (horizontal format) in sheets of 100 stamps.

Printing Process: Photogravure.

Design: The design depicts the Perak State Crest and the portraits of His Highness the Sultan.

Colour: The State Crest and the portrait of His Highness the Sultan in full colour against a yellow background.

Paper: PTM watermarked white paper

Printed by: Harrison & Sons Ltd., London

Period of Sale: Three months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier

First Day Cover
 

Malaysia 10 Years Merdeka

A DECADE OF DEVELOPMENT
The first decade of independence for Malaysia from 1957 to 1967 is a decade of progress in many fields particularly in development both social and economic. The main aim of the Alliance Government during the decade was to make Malaysia a peaceful, happy and prosperous Nation.

When the Federation of Malaya achieved independence on the 31st of August 1957 she had many problems. Malaya was a country with seven million people of various races belonging to different religions, having different customs and different languages. At the same time the communist terrorists were waging a relentless war against the Government and the people. And so this young nation had to be organized well enough to meet not only the challenge of a ruthless enemy but also to conduct a process of assimilation and growth whereby the heterogeneous elements within society could be moulded into a nation with common aims and outlook.

During the Second World War the people suffered untold hardships and they resolved that they should in future hold their destiny in their own hands and almost immediately after the Second World War came to an end the movement for Independence began. With the achievement of Independence in 1957 the people were free to chart a course for the nation.

Clearly it is the duty of the elected Government to make this possible. But the terrorist war had to be ended so that all efforts could be concentrated on development. With the will of the people and the concentrated effort of the Government, the Communist Terrorist campaign  was ended in 1960 and the Government was enabled to give development top priority. This was a twin pronged movement with emphasis on rural development so as to correct the economic imbalance between the rural and urban people and also almost concurrently on urban development mainly industrial to stabilize the economy of the country. The technique of coordinated activity used in the war to combat communist terrorism was adopted for national and rural development. This technique is the well-known Operation Room technique of Malaysia.

Just as it was in the case of the war with the communist terrorists when urgency was vital so was it in the case of implementing the National Development Programmes. Operation Rooms were set up not only in the National Capital but also in the State Capitals as well as at District Headquarters. The progress of development projects was charted and kept up-to-date on maps in the Operation Rooms. Delays in implementation were quickly dealt with. Results had to be achieved within the shortest possible time.

To encourage development the country must be opened up and roads and bridges must be built for easy communications. In the five years 1960 - 1964 almost 2,000 miles of roads were built, opening up new areas and connecting existing villages. Large areas of land were opened up for agriculture. Land Development Schemes were initiated and by the end of the first decade 67 schemes with an area of about 170,000 acres of rubber and oil palm have been planted, and based upon the experience gained, work is already in progress on an area of 93,000 acres called the Jenka Triangle to settle 9,200 families.

The country was primarily engaged in producing rubber but with the drop in the price of this commodity the economy was threatened, consequently diversification had to be embarked upon speedily. Agriculture had to be diversified and industrialists encouraged to enter into manufacturing activities. Private enterprise was given incentives to start factories manufacturing import pioneer industries and the establishment of industrial estates near the large towns and suitable locations.

In this atmosphere of intense economic activity, Malaysia was born in September 1963. The formation of Malaysia was not looked upon with favor by some of her neighbours and consequently Malaysia had to face confrontation which lasted for a period of three years and it is only very recently that confrontation ended. During the period of confrontation Government efforts were concentrated to meet this new threat to her sovereignty but the equally vital need for continuing the development of the country was not lost sight of.

With Peace restored, the people are looking forward towards an era of growing prosperity. The First Malaysia Development Plan has been launched involving a total outlay of $10,500 million during a period of five years from 1966 to 1970. The First and Second Year Development Plans gave amenities of life to the people, such as roads, electricity, water-supplies, health centers, telecommunications, postal services and schools. The First Malaysia Plan is intended to encourage the people themselves to improve their standard of living by coordinating their own efforts.

Malaysia is a young but vigorous country. The educational system is geared for the purpose of giving every school-going child an opportunity to receive education until the age of 14. They are given the best education possible with opportunities for higher education in the colleges and in the University of Malaya.

Looking back again at the first decade of independence the striking thing about it is that it was a decade of remarkable progress during a time of turbulence when internal and external forces were attempting to destroy its very existence. Throughout the Emergency and throughout Confrontation there was parliamentary democracy in the country. In the end good prevailed over evil and the people can continue to lead a peaceful and prosperous life.

Throughout all these years right from the time when the first independence talks with the British Government were held in 1955 to the present day, the primary responsibility for guiding the destiny of this young nation lay with the leader of the Alliance Government, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj and on his understanding and vision. The Tunku, as he is affectionately called, has the ability to weld together a multitude of people into a nation whose very diversity is a source of strength as each and everyone finds it his pleasant task to give his best.

Technical details
Commemorative postage stamps of the 15 cents and 50 cents denominations will be issued on the 31st August, 1967 to mark the 10th Anniversary of Merdeka. Details of the stamps are as follows.

Size: Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 100:
Horizontal - 44 mm
Vertical - 28 mm

Printing Process: Photogravure

Designs: The design features the portraits of Their Majesties the past and the present Yang di-Pertuan Agong in profile and the National flower of Malaysia.

Colors:
15 cents - The portraits in black; flower in red with green leaves on yellow background.


50 cents - The portraits in black; flower in red with green leaves on blue background.

Paper: P.T.M. watermarked white paper

Printed by: Harrison & Sons Ltd., London

Period of Sales: Six months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier.

First Day Cover

25th Anniversary United Nations Commemorative Stamps

UNITED NATIONS 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION
The United Nations came into being on 24th October, 1945. This year will see its 25th Anniversary which will be celebrated extensively not only by this World Body but also by member nations. As one of its many commemorative activities, the Government of Malaysia will be issuing on this occasion a 25th Anniversary Commemorative stamp.

A quarter of a century is a long time for any organization to survive. The United Nations has been through many a troublesome period, but Malaysia has always pledged her support for this worthy body. One might ask why this body is so esteemed in a world so fraught with trouble.

The answers might be found in the Charter of the U.N.  itself. Some of the objectives of the U.N. have been formulated precisely to make the world a better and safer place to live in. These objectives can be described briefly as:

1. To maintain international peace and security.
2. To develop friendly relations among nations.
3. To achieve co-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character.
4. To be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in achieving character.

These are certainly worthy causes and are some of reasons for Malaysia's support for the U.N.

The United Nations does give much of its assistance through its specialized agencies, some of which have inter-governmental status.

The Economic and Social Council, as a co-ordinating body for these agencies, seeks to promote (as  specified in the Charter) "higher standards of living, full employment and conditions of economic and social progress for all peoples.

It is the main coordinating organ for such agencies as the International Labour Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, International Telecommunications Union, UNESCO and a host of other agencies which are formed for the benefit of mankind.

None of these agencies and bodies of the U.N. can function without the financial assistance of member States.

At the moment there are several U.N. projects in Malaysia which are being undertaken by these U.N. specialized agencies. As an example, the Food and Agricultural Organization is at present setting up a Fisherman's Training Center as one of its many projects. It is also assisting in the Forest Industries. The United Nations Development Programme is assisting the Malaysian Government in carrying out surveys and feasibility studies to determine the economic potential and to plan the productive use of national resources; also in establishing and strengthening educational and training institutions. Many F.A.O. and I.T.U experts are brought over and many fellowships are granted to Malaysian citizens.

Apart from its economic and technical work, the U.N. is also used as a "courtroom for world opinion". It is a place where countries deliberate to sort out their various political problems vis-a-vis one another. Such international crises as the Korean Crisis (1950), Congo (1960) and Cuba (1962) have been resolved by means of this world body. On the other hand, many problems have not been resolved. The U.N. does have its defects and is by no means a perfect body. However, it is a useful meeting place for diplomats and the proof of its usefulness may be seen in the fact that it is already 25 years old.

The 25th Anniversary of the U.N. is thus certainly an auspicious occasion not only for the U.N. but also for Malaysia in that the anniversary is to commemorate for Malaysia the good work that the U.N. has done for her and the mutual benefits to both. The issue of this 25th Anniversary Commemorative Stamp is one tribute that Malaysia is giving this esteemed world body.

Technical Details

Commemorative postage stamps of 25 cents, 30 cents and 50 cents denominations will be issued to mark the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations on 24th October, 1970.

Size: Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 100:

Horizontal - 35 mm

Vertical - 25 mm

Design: The three stamps feature the Emblem of the United Nations and 25 Doves of Peace.

Colour: 

25 cents - The Emblem in yellow and the Doves in white against a brown background.

30 cents - The Emblem in blue and the Doves in white against a yellow/green background.

50 cents - The Emblem and Doves in white against a green background.

Artist: Enche Ng Peng Nam

Printing Process: Delacryl

Paper: Unwatermarked white paper

Printed by: Messrs. Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd., England

Period of Sale: Until stocks are exhausted.

First day cover

 

Sarawak Council Negri Centenary 1867-1967

CENTENARY OF THE COUNCIL NEGRI, SARAWAK
On the 8th September, 1967, the Sarawak State Legislature known as Council Negri celebrates its centenary.

The Council Negri held its first meeting at Bintulu on 8th September, 1867, with the Tuan Muda (afterwards Rajah Sir Charles Brooke) presiding. Five Europeans and sixteen local Sarawak leaders, mostly Malays were present. At this first meeting, the members were informed that the purpose of the Council was to deliberate on any matter of great importance to the population in general or any dispute among the different peoples about laws and customs.

The second meeting was held at Sibu in 1868. Subsequent meetings were held in Kuching, usually at intervals of three years.

In 1941, the Rajah (Sir Charles Vyner Brooke) decided to commemorate the Centenary Year of Brooke Rule in Sarawak by introducing constitutional reforms designed to replace autocratic rule by a form of government based on democratic principles. The result was the Constitution Order of 24th September, 1941, which contained the famous Nine Cardinal Principles.

Under the Constitution Order, 1941, the Council Negri consisted of twenty five members made up of fourteen official members and eleven unofficial appointed members. The first meeting of the reconstituted Council was held on 17th November, 1941. A few weeks later the country was overrun by the Japanese.

After the Liberation the Council Negri resumed its functions again. It was at a meeting held on 16th May, 1946, that the Council gave its consent to the Creation of Sarawak to the British Crown.

As a first step towards the achievement of self-government, the Council Negri was again reconstituted under the Sarawak (Constitution) Order in Council, 1956, to consist of fourteen ex-officio Members, twenty four Elected Members, four Nominated Members and three Standing Members. The ex-officio Members were the Chief Secretary (acting as President of the Council), the Attorney-General, the Financial Secretary, the Residents of the five Divisions, and six other Government officers appointed by the Governor. The Standing Members were appointed by the Rajah before the Cession as members of the Council Negri for so long as they remain members of the State Public Service. When the seat of a Standing Member became vacant, it was not to be filled. Persons eligible for appointment as Elected or Nominated Members had to be 25 years of age or upwards and to be British subjects or British protected persons. Furthermore, they ware required to have been residents in Sarawak for seven out of the ten years preceding an election.

Elected Members of the Council Negri were elected by Divisional Advisory Councils and the three urban councils of Kuching, Sibu and Miri in accordance with the Council Negri Elections Ordinance, as follows:

First Divisional Advisory Council - 5 representatives
Second Divisional Advisory Council - 4 representatives
Third Divisional Advisory Council - 6 representatives
Fourth Divisional Advisory Council - 4 representatives
Fifth Divisional Advisory Council - 2 representatives
Kuching Municipal Council - 1 representative
Sibu Urban District Council - 1 representative
Miri Urban District Council - 1 representative

Total 24

Constitutional changes were made in 1963 by the introduction of the Sarawak (Constitutional) (Amendment) Order in Council, 1963, but a new Constitution was enacted in the same year under the Malaysia Act, 1963 to enable Sarawak, North Borneo and Singapore to federate with the existing States of the Federation of Malaya and thus achieve internal self-government. Under the new Constitution of the State of Sarawak, the Council Negri was reconstituted to consist of a Speaker, three ex-officio Members, namely the State Secretary, the State Attorney-General and the State Financial Secretary, thirty-six Elected Members, three Nominated Members and one Standing Member.

The thirty six Elected Members have been elected by means of a three tier system, that is, they were first elected by the people to the District Councils and the Kuching Municipal Council, thence to the five Divisional Advisory Councils and finally to the Council Negri. The distribution of seats is:

First Division Advisory Council - 10 members
Second Division Advisory Council - 6 members
Third Division Advisory Council - 11 members
Fourth Division Advisory Council - 6 members
Fifth Division Advisory Council - 3 members

Total 36

There is at present no Standing Member. The last Standing Member was Dato (now Tun) Abang Haji Openg, OBE who was then the President of the Majlis Islam before he was appointed Governor of Sarawak.

The first meeting of the Council Negri under the new Constitution was held on 4th September, 1963. On 16th September, the same year, Sarawak achieved its independence by becoming a State in the Federation of Malaysia.

In other States of Malaysia the legislation is known as the State Legislative Assembly but, in Sarawak, the name "Council Negri" has been retained.

It is expected that in its Centenary Year, 1967, Council Negri will be developed still further and become a House whose members will be returned by direct elections to be held for the first time towards the end of the year.

The two commemorative stamps depict the Council Negri Mace which symbolizes the Speaker's authority and impartiality in the House. The Mace was presented to the Council Negri on 14th December, 1965, by Dato Wee Kheng Chiang, PNBS., CSS., on behalf of the people of Sarawak.

Technical Details
Commemorative postage stamps of the 15 cents and 50 cents denominations will be issued on the 8th September, 1967 to mark the Centenary of the Council Negri, Sarawak. Details of the stamps are as follows:

Size: Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 100:
Horizontal - 35 mm
Vertical - 25 mm

Printing Process: Photogravure

Design: The design features the Council Negri Mace and the State Crest

Colours:
15 cents - The Mace in yellow and grey; State Crest in yellow, black and red on bright green background

50 cents - The Mace in yellow and grey; State Crest in yellow, black and red on olive-brown background

Paper: P.T.M. watermarked white paper

Printed by: Harrison & Sons Ltd., London

Artist: Enche Ng Peng Nam

Period of Sale: Three months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier

First Day Cover

The Centenary of the International Telecommunication Union

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION CENTENARY
Before going into the details of the International Telecommunication Union, it is perhaps best, for the benefit for those unfamiliar with this organization, to define the word "Telecommunication as "Any transmission, emission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds of intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic system". In other words, telegraph, telephone, radio and all their applications such as telex and television are encompassed in the field of Telecommunications.

Through these media it is possible for people to communicate with one another over vast distances. But difficulty is often met when it comes to crossing the man-made frontier between nations. This was clear right from the beginning, more than a hundred years ago people first started sending telegrams from one country to another (the telegrams had to be handed across the frontier). Some kind of international agreement was therefore necessary.

It was for this reason therefore, that the I.T.U. originated on 17th May. 1865 with the signing of the International Telegraph Convention. It is the oldest of intergovernmental organizations which have become specialized agencies in relation with the United Nations.

In 1876, the telephone was invented and then towards the close of the 19th Century, radio. These new communication media also became international and regulations were drawn up for their use.

An important step forward for the organization was taken in Madrid in 1932 when two plenipotentiary conferences were held - a Telegraph and Telephone Conference, and a Radio Telegraph Conference. On that occasion, the two conventions were amalgamated into a single "International Telecommunication Convention" and the countries which signed or acceded to it formed the International Telecommunication Union, replacing the Telegraph Union.

The present headquarters of the I.T.U. is situated in Geneva, Switzerland, in which four permanent organs are to be found -

• General Secretariat
• International Frequency Registration Board (IFRB);
• International Radio Consultative Committee (CCIR)
• International Telegraph & Telephone Consultative Committee (CCITT)

The I.T.U. at present consists of 119 members and one Associate member. Malaysia is a member of the I.T.U.

The General Secretariat is the organ of liaison between telecommunication Administrations throughout the world. With it are deposited instruments of ratification of the Convention and instruments of accession. It also publishes numerous documents essential for the efficient running of telecommunications services and also a monthly publication entitled the Telecommunication Journal.

The main task of the International Frequency Registration Board is to decide whether radio frequencies which countries assign to their radio stations (and which they have notified to the Board) are in accordance with the Convention and the Radio Regulations and will not cause harmful interference to other stations. An average of more than 1700 frequency assignments, or change of assignments, notices from countries arrive at the IFRB each week. Another important task of the IFRB is to work out seasonal High Frequency Broadcasting Schedules.

The International Radio Consultative Committee and the International Telegraph and Telephone Consultative Committee deal respectively with technical radio problems and technical telegraph and telephone problems. Each Committee holds a Plenary Assembly every few years. The Plenary Assembly draws up a list of technical telecommunication subjects or "Questions", the study of which would lead to improvements in International Radio Communication or International Telegraphy and Telephony. These questions are then entrusted to a number of Study Groups, composed of experts from different countries, which draw up Recommendations which are then submitted to the next Plenary Assembly. If the Assembly adopts the Recommendations they are published.

On 15th November, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations acknowledged the I.T.U. as the specialized agency in the field of telecommunications, under an agreement defining the means whereby the two international organizations cooperate. With the spirit of cooperation, the Union, since 1952, has participated in the "Expanded Program of Technical Assistance" carried out jointly by the United Nations and the Specialized Agencies. The activities now cover twenty-two countries which receive advice from experts or obtain further training for their specialists from fellowship grants. In addition, the Union cooperates in the new United Nations "Special Fund" for which it draws up plans, recruits experts and helps in the implementation of projects. In this particular aspect, the Telecommunications Department, Malaysia has benefited considerably in that the United Nations has allotted several million dollars from its "Special Fund" to assist in the erection of a new Telecommunications Training Centre in Gurney Road, Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia, as a member of the International Telecommunication Union, joins all other nations of the world in celebrating the Centenary of this important world organization.

Technical Details
Special postage stamps of the 2 cents, 25 cents and 50 cents denominations will be issued on the 17th May 1965 to commemorate the Centenary of the International Telecommunication Union.

Size: Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation:
Horizontal - 36 mm
Vertical - 25 mm

Printing Process: Photogravure

Design: The design features a Microwave Tower and the I.T.U. emblem.

Colour:
2 c. - Orange with lilac background

25 c. - Orange with brown background

50 c. - Orange with green background


Paper: Unwatermarked paper

Printed by: Helio-Courvoisier S.A. Switzerland

The stamps will be placed on sale in all the territories of Malaysia for a period of three months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier.

 First Day Cover

The 7th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
The Asian Development Bank is an international development finance institution established for the purpose of lending funds, promoting investment and providing technical assistance to developing member countries, and generally in the Asian region. Since its inauguration in 1966 and from the original membership of 31 countries it has increased to 40 in 1973.

The Bank has two important features. First, it is an Asian Bank conceived by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE): it is located in the ECAFE region; about 60 per cent of its capital is subscribed by the regional member countries; the President and eight of the 12 Directors come from the region. Secondly, unlike certain regional financial institutions, the membership of the Bank extends beyond the region: countries outside Asia have contributed to the Bank's capital and are represented on the Boards of Directors and professional staff of the Bank.

The organizational structure of the Bank consists of the Boards of Governors, which is the highest policy making body. The responsibility for the general policy direction of the operations of the Bank rests with the Board of Directors. The Board consists of 12 Directors; 8 representing regional member countries and 4 representing non-regional members. The President under the direction of the Board of Directors of which he is the Chairman, is responsible for the organization and operation of the Bank.

Each member of the Bank is represented on the Board of Governors by a Governor and an Alternate Governor. Normally the Governor is either the Minister of Finance or Governor of the Central Bank of the member country. The Hon'ble Tun Tan Siew Sin, Minister of Finance is the Governor of the Asian Development Bank for Malaysia and the Hon'ble Datuk Mohamad Rahmat the deputy Minister of Finance is the Alternate Governor. The Board of Governors as the highest policy making body of the Bank meets at least once annually.

Malaysia is for the first time playing host for the 7th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors to be held at Kuala Lumpur Hilton from the 25th April until 27th April 1974. About 300 official participants are expected to attend the meeting. In addition between 200 and 250 private Bankers and from 100 to 125 members of the press (both local and overseas) are likely to attend.

The meeting will be opened by the Hon'ble Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Hussein the Prime Minister of Malaysia on Thursday, 25th April, 1974 at Nirwana Ballroom, Kuala Lumpur Hilton.

The relationship between Malaysia and the Bank has been extremely cordial and mutually beneficial. As an international financial institution established principally for economic development in the developing Asian region, the Bank has been very cooperative in considering loans to Malaysia for various development projects. The aggregate amount of loan so far financed by the Bank to Malaysia is approximately US$150 million covering 17 projects ranging from water supply, power, highway, agriculture, port and airport.

Technical Details
Commemorative postage stamps of the 30 cts. and 75 cts. denominations will be issued on the 25th April, 1974, to mark the 7th annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank in Kuala Lumpur. Details of the stamps are as follows:

Size: Horizontal format with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 100 stamps:
Vertical - 27 mm
Horizontal - 42.5 mm

Designs: The basic design is common to both denominations and features the emblem of the Asian Development Bank; a composite drawing depicting development projects; the word 'Malaysia' in blue, the denomination in red and the lettering in black.

Colour: Multicolour, with a grey background for the 30 cts. and buff background for the 75 cts.

Artist: Final artwork by Malaysian Advertising Services, Kuala Lumpur

Printing Process: Lithography

Paper: Unwatermarked white paper

Printer: Messrs Bruder Rosenbaum Printers, Vienna, Austria

Period of sale: Until stocks are exhausted

First Day Cover

SEACOM

SEACOM is the code name for the South-East Asia Commonwealth Telephone Cable System. With its completion, another very significant contribution by the Commonwealth Nations to bring the countries of the world into closer contact with each other is accomplished.

Good telecommunications within a country are necessary for full inter-working of governmental, commercial, industrial and social operations. So, in a wider field good international telecommunications in the world are necessary to assist countries to develop together economically and socially.

The Commonwealth has a vast network of international telecommunication facilities consisting of high frequency radio, telegraph submarine cables wideband telephone submarine cables and communication satellites. The last two media of communication have been developed only recently, and they can provide large capacities and high quality communication links which H.F. radio and out of date telegraph cables cannot do.

The Commonwealth international telecommunication network is not only extensive but it is a unique set-up in the world of communications. It consists of a common-user system of interconnections between practically all Commonwealth countries as well  as connections between Commonwealth countries and non-Commonwealth countries.

SEACOM is a truly Commonwealth joint effort, built by Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Britain, each Partner sharing in the total cost and also contributing in one way or another to the technical design, materials, manufacture or installation.

SEACOM is doubly important to Malaysia, firstly, because it connects the State of Malaya with the State of Sabah and thus provides a first class communication link, which will no doubt contribute greatly to the development of Sabah, secondly, because it is the first telephone cable to be laid in South-East Asia. It will not only give Malaysia good communications to many countries in this region like the Philippines, Japan and Hong Kong but also to Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Britain, the United States and Europe.

The SEACOM cable route is made up of five cable sections, Singapore to Jesselton, Jesselton to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Guam, Guam to Madang and Madang to Cairns. Kuala Lumpur is connected to SEACOM by a microwave link from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore and also from Cairns to Sydney by another microwave link.

At Guam SEACOM is connected to the Trans-Pacific cable and telephone where telex and telegraph connections are made to Tokyo, San Francisco and Manila from Kuala Lumpur and other Commonwealth points in the cable.

At Sydney SEACOM is connected to the Commonwealth Pacific cable called COMPAC and thence via the Canadian overland microwave system to Montreal where connection is made to the Commonwealth Trans-Atlantic cable CANTAT. Thus via this route direct telephone, telex and telegraph connections have been provided from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney and London. At the switching centres at Sydney and London connections to New Zealand, Canada and countries in Europe can be dialed direct from Kuala Lumpur. Services over the cable will all be on a 24-hour continuous basis. Hence, with the completion of SEACOM, it is expected that there will be an outstanding improvement in the international telecommunication services from Malaysia.

SEACOM has a capacity of 80 telephone circuits between Kuala Lumpur and Guam and 160 circuits between Guam and Sydney. Telegraph, telex and data transmission can also be made via SEACOM and a single telephone circuit can provide up to 22 telegraph or telex channels.

The length of a telephone circuit from Kuala Lumpur to Sydney in the SEACOM system is 9800 miles and there are 356 submerged amplifiers or repeaters inserted in the cable. The submerged repeaters are designed and manufactured with meticulous attention to every detail, so that they can give an expected trouble-free life under the sea of at least 20 years without maintenance attention. Each repeater contains two amplifier systems working in parallel so that if one system fails, the other will maintain service with no effect upon the performance of the system.

All possible care is taken during laying and jointing of the cable to ensure that the system will function efficiently for many years. Every joint made on the coaxial cable is X-rayed to check for possible defects before it is accepted. The route of the cable has all been surveyed carefully and the cable laid precisely on the selected path along the ocean bed.

Some sections of SEACOM are laid in waters up to 24,000 feet deep where both the cable and repeaters will be subjected to tremendous pressures.

The total cost of the SEACOM system is in the region of $200 million, contributed jointly by Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Britain. The system is expected to give more than 20 years of good service in conjunction with other cable and space satellite systems.

The demand for international communications is increasing rapidly all over the world and financially SEACOM is expected to be a profitable project. But more important is the benefit it can provide by bringing the peoples of the world closer together with rapid and continuous contact. It is difficult to name a price for the increased undertaking that will ensue.

Technical Details
Special postage stamps of the 30 cents and 75 cents denominations will be issued on the 30th March, 1967 to commemorate the completion of the SEACOM Project.

Size: Rectangular with the following dimensions perforation to perforation in sheets of 50:
Horizontal - 72 mm
Vertical - 25.5  mm

Printing Process: Photogravure

Design: The design features two maps, one of Southeast Asia and Australia showing the route of the SEACOM cable and the other of the world showing the SEACOM cable connected to the international telecommunications network.

Colours:
30 c - yellow, blue, green and red


75 c - yellow, blue, light blue and red


Paper: Unwatermarked paper

Printed by: Government Printing Bureau of Japan

Artist: Enche Ng Peng Nam

Period of Sale: Three months from the date of issue or until stocks are exhausted whichever is earlier

First Day Cover