The IXth Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference

THE COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1911, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has the following aims:

• To promote understanding and cooperation among those persons engaged in and those formerly associated with Parliaments and Legislatures in the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations:
  (i) by the exchange of information and visits; and
  (ii) by Conferences of Members of such Parliaments and Legislatures
• Similarly, to promote understanding and cooperation with Legislators of countries outside the Commonwealth having close historical and parliamentary association with them

Membership of the Association is of two types and is restricted to persons who are or have been Members of Parliament: Ordinary Members being those currently Members of Parliament; and Associate Members those who have been but are not currently Members of Parliament.

The achievements and the significance of the Association in the Commonwealth may be summed up in its own words:

In all the years of its existence, the Association claims credit for no specific constitutional change, no far-reaching legislative enactment, not even so much as a resounding resolution; yet it has played a genuine and valuable part in the development of ideas about and within the Commonwealth. It is indeed something more than the mere words "An Association of the Parliaments of the Commonwealth" can imply. Through the facilities it offers, the various legislators can obtain the necessary knowledge and understanding of each other and of each other's problems without which no common approach is possible. They can confer frankly as with members of the same family and take back with them to their own lands the fruits of experience they have gathered which, in the course of their normal Parliamentary  duties, they can distribute among their colleagues and constituents. By these means throughout the entire Commonwealth, a certain common background of thought and opinion can be created, which at times of international crisis may be reflected in a readiness for common action.

The 9th Post-war Parliamentary Conference meets at the newly completed Parliament House which stands in the Lake Gardens of Kuala Lumpur, the Federal Capital of Malaysia.

It is an impressive building on top of a hill and is visible for miles around. Designed and supervised by the Federal Public Works Department, this building has taken nearly 2.5 years to complete at a cost of approximately $17 million inclusive of plant and equipment, furniture and fittings.

The building itself occupies an area of almost two and a quarter acres; there are twenty levels in the tower block and three levels in the main building providing a total of approximately 360,000 square feet of floor space. The two Chambers of the Houses of Parliament are in the main block, in which are also a Banqueting Hall, a Library, Entrance Halls, Office Accommodation for the staff of Parliament and for Government Officers attending Parliament, Office Suites for the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Prime Minister, Lounges, Coffee Rooms and Dining Rooms for Members, a Press Room, and Committee Rooms. In the tower block, there are Office Suites for the use of Ministers during Meetings of Parliament, the Cabinet Chamber, and offices for ordinary Members of Parliament. The whole Parliament House is air-conditioned by two units having a  total output of 2,000 h.p., which are controlled centrally.

Of the two Chambers, the larger one is that of the House of Representatives. It will have a normal capacity of 160 Members of Parliament, and has in addition provision for about 260 members of the public, 36 Press Representatives and 60 Government Officials. For the State Opening of Parliament, for which the Chamber of the House of Representatives will also be used, it will be possible to seat about 220 Members in the pool of the Chamber. The Senate Chamber has seating accommodation for 60 Senators, about 110 members of the public, 30 Official and 24 Pressmen.

Technical Details
Special postage stamps of the 20 cents and 30 cents denominations will be issued on the 4th November, 1963 to commemorate the 9th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference which will be held in Kuala Lumpur.

Size: Diamond shape, measuring 35 mm each side perforation to perforation.

Printing Process: Photogravure

Design: The design features and outline of the new Parliament Building and the emblem of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Colour:
20 cents - Outline of the building and emblem in white, lettering in gold, on dark green background


30 cents - Outline of the building and emblem in white, lettering in gold, on lake background.


Paper: PTM watermarked white paper

Printed by: Harrison & Sons Ltd., London

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
 

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