KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 — Pos Malaysia Berhad will be issuing a "battle sites” stamp series on Thursday featuring sites involving such encounters in conjunction with Malaysia Day.

Its stamp and philately unit head Diyana Lean Abdullah said the stamps were designed to remember the heroes of the battles besides educating Malaysians on the history behind the encounters.

"A lot of interesting stories have been left untold in Malaysia. By producing stamps about them, we believe we can inspire the younger generation to learn about history and how many sacrificed for the nation,” she told a press conference.

She said the stamps were issued to mark Malaysia Day.

The series include the battle in which Sultan Ibrahim of Selangor won against the invading Dutch on June 28, 1785; Iban warrior Libau Rentap’s resistance against the British in Sarawak between 1844 and 1867: Suluk Bajau fighter Mat Salleh’s uprising against the British in Sabah in 1900; the British encounter with Japanese forces landing at a beachfront in Kota Baru in 1941; and, the fight by police against communist insurgents at Bukit Kepong in Johor in 1950.

The stamp of Malawati Fort is priced at 60 sen, Mat Salleh Fort (60 sen), Libau Rentap Fort (80 sen) and Bukit Kepong (80 sen) while the miniature stamp featuring the Kota Baru battle site comes at RM3.20.

First day covers, inclusive of a brochure, are sold at 55 sen each while folders containing the stamps and a brief describition of the battles are being sold at RM72.60 each.

Diyana said the cancellation mark on first day covers in the form of a cannon will only be available on Thursday.

The company defines a battle site as one that represents the sacrifices and dedication of past heroes and leaders in defending the country.

She said the stamps had been produced to acknowledge the unsung heroes who fought for the country’s freedom.