Starchild: Why stamps are loved by Malaysian kids

Joshua Tan, 12

Imagine a sticker so important it can help your letter travel across cities, seas and even continents. That magical little sticker is called a stamp!

Clarissa Ng Sue May, 9Stamps may be small, but they have been a big part of how people communicated long before smartphones and emails existed.

Malaysia’s first postage stamp was issued on Sept 16, 1963. This historic date is celebrated as Malaysia Day, which marks the formation of Malaysia, uniting Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Collectors, or philatelists as they’re called, go even further by collecting things like postmarks, first-day covers and old-school envelopes.

Stamps are also like tiny pieces of artwork. Designers create beautiful pictures to celebrate a country’s pride and heritage, from national animals and traditional crafts to famous explorers, athletes and inventors.

Some stamps highlight holidays, historical anniversaries or endangered species. Others shine a spotlight on big achievements, like space missions or scientific discoveries.

This year, Pos Malaysia introduced several exciting new stamp themes that celebrate important moments, nature and culture. The first release of the year on Jan 1 featured the Asean-Malaysia Chairmanship 2025, highlighting Malaysia’s role in bringing neighbouring countries together.

Rina Zulkifli, 5In February, stamp collectors were treated to a striking set of stamps on snakes, showing the unique and colourful species found in our region.

On July 30, a beautiful set of rose-themed stamps was released.

You can explore the world without leaving your home just by looking at stamps from different countries. Some collectors even trade stamps with friends to grow their collection.

So the next time you are at a post office, take a peek at the stamp designs. You might spot something cute, cool or surprising. Who knows, you might even start your own stamp adventure!

We received positive response from Starchild readers on the topic, Stamps. We will publish the next set of letters next week.

Joshua Tan, 12, writes, “Nowadays, there are very few people sending letters with stamps. I obtained my old stamps from my parents, who collected them when they were in school. There are many of them, in different sizes and from different countries. They are valuable and full of history. This is how I started collecting stamps myself.”

Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 10, “I love the outdoors, so my stamp design is all about camping. I drew a tent, a campfire and some tall trees. There are many beautiful parks and camp sites in Malaysia, like Taman Negara and Endau-Rompin. With my stamp design, I want to show how fun it is to explore the outdoors. I hope that when people see my stamps, they will want to go camping too!”

Michelle Tan Mei Kuan, 10

Nine-year-old Clarissa Ng Sue May thinks stamps are important because they help letters reach the right place.

Maya Nair, 5“I designed my own stamp in school and I drew flowers because I love all things floral.”

Five-year-old Maya Nair has designed a stamp with a ladybird because she loves bugs. “Ladybirds are cute and tiny. I like their red shells with black spots. They are one of the smallest creatures in Malaysia, and I always look for them in the garden. I drew my ladybird sitting on a green leaf. I think it will make a happy and colourful stamp!”

Rina Zulkifli, five, says: “I like stamps because they are small and colourful. My mother lets me stick stamps on envelopes when we send birthday cards. I feel very important when I do it! My favourite stamp has two cherries on it.”

ITEM: Watches come in all shapes, sizes and colours – some even talk, glow or show your steps! This week, we want you to design your very own dream watch. What would it look like? What special features would it have? Maybe your watch can change colours, play music, remind you to drink water, or even help you talk to animals!

Email your contributions to [e-mail] by Dec 5. Please put “STARCHILD: My Watch” in the subject line of your email. Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact, and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.