Trees of Malaysia

Date of Issue: 1981-12-16
Denominations: 15 cents, 50 cents, 80 cents
Stamp Size: 30 mm x 41 mm
Paper: Unwatermarked white, coated postage stamp paper
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Messrs. John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd., Leeds, England
Designer: Encik Md. Yusof Bin Haji Saman

Stamps in this Series:

First Day Cover:



The forests of Malaysia are of the tropical evergreen rain forest ecosystem. The background to the natural heritage of Malaysia and its great rain forests, which having evolved untouched over the past 130 million years, represent the oldest and richest forest as well as the most complex and diverse ecosystem the world has ever known. The flora and fauna in these forests are incredibly luxuriant, intricate and varied and provide fascinating subjects for postage stamps. There are about 8,000 species of flowering plants in Semenanjung Malaysia of which about 3,000 are trees. The trees are predominantly evergreen and some of the m grow to more than 60 m in height. There is no definite flowering season but there is a tendency for gregarious flowering once every 5 years.

About half of Malaysia is still covered with forests. Most of the forest types are dominated by trees of the Dipterocarp family which constitute about 70-80% of the exploited timber from these forests. Timbers known by the trade names Balau, Chengal, Kapur, Keruing, Meranti, all come from this family. Other dominant trees include Damar Minyak, Jelutong, Kempas, Merbau, Nyatoh, Sepetir, Tualang, etc. Tualang (Koompassia excelsa) is the third tallest tree in the world with a recorded height of 80m.

In addition to providing a major source of income from timber, these forests are also enriched with minor forest products like rattan, bamboo, dammars, medicinal plants as well as wild relatives of cultivated fruit trees.

15c denomination
English name: Rain Tree
Local name: Hujan-Hujan
Scientific name: Samanea Saman



The tree grows up to 25 m tall with widespread umbrella-shaped crown. The bark is fissured and chocolate colored whilst the trunk is slightly crooked. The leaves are 20-30 cm long, compound with 3-6 pairs of side stalks; 6-8 pairs of leaflets arise on each side stalk, which are small, (3x2 cm) and almost rhombic in shape.

Flowers which are pink in tassel-like heads are to be found in clusters from leaf axils with numerous stamens.

The fruit is long and straight, 15-25x1.5 cm, with many seeds which are separated by partitions; the seed measuring 1.5 cm long and is brown in color.

The Rain Tree was introduced to Peninsular Malaysia before 1876 and is now a common sight as a roadside shade tree throughout the country. Cross cuts of the tree are used as table tops due to the excellent growth rings they display.

50c denomination
Local name: Jelutong
Scientific name: Dyera Costulata



It is a magnificent huge cylindrical tree reaching over 60 m tall and 260 cm in diameter with dense domed crown. The bark is smooth or cracking; abundant white latex comes out from the cut bark, twigs and leaves. Leaves are arranged in circles around the coarsely ribbed twigs. The fruit has resemblance to a pair of horns. They split along one side when ripe. The flat seeds are surrounded by papery wings and are dispersed by wind. The timber is light hardwood excellent for toys, drawing boards, pencils, match splints, etc. The latex is used as a base for chewing gum.

Jelutong is found in the lowland and hill forests in most parts of Malaysia but nowhere abundant.

The trees shed their leaves after a long dry spell and remain bare for a few days before the new leaves appear. The flowers appear with the new leaves and the flowering period lasts for about 10 days. The fruits ripen in 2-3 months.

80c denomination
Local name : Kapur
Scientific name: Dryobalanops Aromatica
English name: Borneo Camphor Wood



It is one of the tallest trees of the Indo-Malayan tropics reaching up to 80 m in height. The bole is almost cylindrical with scaly or flaky bark.

Cut bark and crushed green leaves give a strong aromatic odor. The surface of the bark is often provided with hard resin. The trees have very fine conical crown when young. The leaves are small, oval in shape with close parallel veins.

Flowers are white and fragrant. The fruits have 5 long wings which help in the dispersal by wind.

The timber is a medium hardwood having a strong odor of Camphor when freshly cut. It is suitable for all classes of construction except when in contact with ground or water.

In Peninsular Malaysia, Kapur trees are confined to the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia from Trengganu to Johore except for a patch of forest near Templer Park area in Selangor.

The 100th Anniversary of Sabah

Commemorative Postage Stamps To Mark The 100th Anniversary of Sabah

Date of Issue: 1981-08-31
Denominations: 15 cents, 80 cents
Stamp Sizes: 48.26 mm x 29.85 mm
Paper: Unwatermarked white coated postage stamp paper
Printing Process: Lithography
Printer: Messrs. John Waddington of Kirkstall Ltd., England
Designer: Creative Concepts Sdn. Bhd., Sabah
Stamps in this Series:

First Day Cover:



The Sabah Centenary marks 100 years of Sabah’s social, economic and political developments, that is from 1991 when she became a colony under the British Chartered Company until today.
The year 1981 commemorates the passing of a 100 years, a truly formative and developing period in the history of Sabah. The Centenary celebrations gives emphasis not only to Sabah’s progress during the past 100 years but also to the participation of the people in the celebrations on a statewide basis.

The celebrations started in Penampang on 1st January, 1981, followed by other districts and sub-districts, all of which had drawn up elaborate programmes. Kota Kinabalu, the state capital, will have the celebrations on 31st August, 1981, the National Day.

In all the districts except Kota Kinabalu the celebrations take the form of pesta rakyat, or the festival for the people. This is a more elaborate version of the traditional for the people. This is a more elaborate version of the traditional tamu besar, featuring agricultural exhibitions, cultural and other performances, floats and lantern processions, firework displays, to name only a few. In Kota Kinabalu the main attractions will be the CENTENARY EXPO.

The theme of the celebrations is ‘Sabah Berjaya Sebangsa’ or ‘Sabah Succeeds As One People’. The theme recognizes the reality that Sabah is a society of many ethnic origins and religions. The theme shows the prime concern and overriding objective of the present leadership, that is, to forge unity and achieve progress as one people, now and in the future. The theme is intended to make people more aware that unity and solidarity are vital because all who live in Sabah share a common destiny.

Each individual participates in the celebrations in his own way, some actively in organized activities such as water sports, the big walk organized by the Federal Officers’ Association, Sabah Branch, or the gotong royongs which take place in many districts. Others participate by giving donations to the centenary efforts. For instance, the Japanese community in Sabah has donated $800,000 towards the cost of the firework displays in 30 districts and sub-districts in Sabah. The various chambers of commerce and commercial organizations have likewise made contributions in money or in kind. Participation in the Centenary Expo is a unique experience. The widespread cleaning and sprucing up of towns and villages through gotong royong efforts is another form of participation in the Sabah Centenary. Students and members of the public take part in the many competition such as the history-writing competition, the painting competition, the poster competition, the Centenary Song writing competition and many others, but for the most part people participate simply by being spectators in the centenary events. This is an equally important form of participation for without it even the best-organized events will fall short of success.

A rewarding and inspiring experience is expected to be gained by the Centenary celebrations. This will be a time to stand back, so to speak, and survey the progress that has been made in the 100 years since the tortuous journey to modernity began. This is a time to look at present day Sabah in the context of the various periods of its 100 year history: the Chartered Company period, the World War II period, the post-war colonial period and the post-independence period. This is also a time to look at Sabah’s performance in terms of the First, Second, and Third Malaysia Plans. The Centenary celebrations will also be a reminder to the people of the various periods in Sabah’s history when basic human rights and freedom of the people were lost and found. This will have the effect of strengthening the people’s resolve never to lose them again.

The State Centenary Celebrations Committee is headed by the Rt. Hon. The Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd. Salleh, and was set up to organize, to facilitate, to control and coordinate the formulation and implementation of programmes and activities in all the districts and sub-districts in Sabah in connection with the celebrations. It has mobilized government departments and agencies and has enlisted the participation of voluntary organization as well as organizations in the private sector. It has sought to involve as many people in the centenary activities as possible in order that the celebrations are truly meaningful and memorable.

Sabah: History in Brief

1881: The British Government granted a charter to the North Borneo Provisional Association Limited.
1882: The British North Borneo Company was formed to finance the administration of the new state.
1888: North Borneo became a British protectorate.
1896: Railway was introduced. This led to the opening of the West Coast for rubber cultivation.
1942-1945: Japanese Occupation
1945-1946: Liberation by Commonwealth forces.
1946: The military authority handed North Borneo over to a civilian government. North Borneo became a British Colony.
1946-1952: North Borneo together with the Island of Labuan became a British Crown Colony administered by a Governor with an Advisory Council, Executive Consultative Council and a Legislative Council, District Councils and sub-district councils were established. The first district council was established in Kota Belud on 1st January, 1952.
1961: The first political party United National Kadazan Organization (UNKO) was formed and led by Datuik Donald Stephens. United Sabah National Organization (USNO) was later formed by Datuk Mustapha bin Datuk Harun.
1962: Sabah held its first elections for the Local Councils seats. Sabah Alliance (UNKO and USNO) achieved overwhelming success and solidified support for the creation of Malaysia.
1963: The Creation of Malaysia. Datuk Donald Stephens (the late Tun Datuk Hj. Mohd. Fuad Stephens) became the first Chief Minister. North Borneo became officially known as Sabah.

1976-1981: Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah (BERJAYA) took over the reins of Government after it defeated Sabah Alliance in the General Elections. Bersatu Rakyat Jelata Sabah continues to govern Sabah having once again been victorious in the Elections held in 1981.