Malaysia`s `PosDAFTAR`

Malaysia’s ‘PosDAFTAR’ Registration System
Registration Stamps, but not as we
Know Them! Malaysia’s ‘PosDAFTAR’
Registration System
By Len Stanway
Postal services are adopting to advances in technology all the
time and this is affecting the stamps and postal history we collect.
Developments in the registration system in use in Malaysia in
the 21st century have already given rise to a number of changes
including the fee paid being included in the cost of the label,
justifying their description as ‘stamps’. Len Stanway runs through
the story so far—but there is the strong possibility that there are
further discoveries to be made!
From circa 1911 to 2001, Malaya used
variants on the traditional British blueand-white registration label. However, with
the growth of postal mechanisation, the
Universal Postal Union adopted a standard
numbering system for tracked postal items,
optimised for use with barcodes, so, from
2 April 2001, all Malaysian offices introduced
a new Registered post system, marketed as
‘PosDAFTAR’, which complied with the UPU
standard. The UPU system ensures that, in
theory, postal administrations should be able
to track foreign mail automatically using the
barcodes without the need to apply national
tracking labels.
The new Malaysian system required all
registered mail to carry a large, self-adhesive,
combined stamp and label with computer
barcodes, including tear-off barcode
strips which could either be attached to
documentation, such as the postman’s
delivery receipt book, or scanned by a handheld recording device. The backing sheet of
the stamp provided instructions for use and
acted as the sender’s receipt. The registration
fee (and postage in some cases) was therefore
no longer paid for using ordinary postage
stamps, but was paid using these items, which
had intrinsic monetary value, which justifies
my decision to classify them as registration
stamps instead of labels. They were sold over
the counter, like any other stamps, but the
postal item, with PosDAFTAR stamp affixed,
still had to be handed over the counter for
registration and stamping of the receipt.
At launch, the system used three versions
of the PosDAFTAR stamp, for domestic,
international and postal service use, plus
a registration envelope for domestic use
only (Fig 1). A fourth stamp, for use on
incoming registered mail without a UPUcompliant, tear-off-type, barcode label, may
also have existed at this stage, but has not
been recorded in this original format. Other
services were added to the system later.
Each stamp carries a unique barcode and
associated serial number as follows:
RD: Service type / 01 517 607: Serial number / 4:
Computer check digit / MY: Malaysia
It will be seen that the combination of the
first four digits describes one million stamps
issued. By the end of 2011, the domestic
numbering series was in its fourth cycle (over
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The Malaya
Study Group
This article was provided by Len
Stanway of the Malaya Study
Group. The MSG has over 420
members spread around the
world and exists for collectors
of the stamps, postal stationery
and postal history of the states
of Peninsular Malaysia and
Singapore.
It publishes its quarterly The
Malayan Philatelist which contains
articles, questions and answers
submitted by the members.
For further information, visit
the group’s website:
www.malayastudygroup.com
Fig 1 Original Domestic envelope type 1
303 million stamps printed). This would suggest that, on average, about 30 million domestic
registered items have been sent each year. Nearly 100 million domestic stamps were needed
to provide the initial office stock plus use in the first year. By contrast, only some 14 million
international series stamps had been produced in total.
Most of the stamps had a red fluorescent, invisible (except under UV light), dot-matrixprinted, security marking in the form of the words ‘POS MALAYSIA’ printed across the stamp,
usually facing sideways reading down the centre of the stamp, but variations do occur.
Series 1 stamps (2 April 2001)
Series 1 is characterised by its very large size (90×92mm except for the international stamp
which was 90×85mm), which must have been of concern right from the start, as the backing
G.S.M. October 2013
Malaysia’s ‘PosDAFTAR’ Registration System
paper specified that envelopes to be
registered must be at least DL size! Four types
of stamp have been recorded:
(i) Domestic Registered (Track on 1) (RD
series numbers)
This red stamp was peeled from a backing
form entitled ‘TRACK ON 1’, which
presumably referred to a digital ledger system
on which movements of registered mail were
recorded. For use on domestic registered
mail only, it was sold at RM1.30 including the
first 20g. postage (Fig 2). It had five peeloff barcode strips, the top (A) one of which
included data on sender and addressee. Used
examples normally had one or more of these
strips removed for recording purposes.
The first printing of the domestic stamp
was dated ‘24/02/01’ and was in the Bahasa
Malaysia language with an English translation
on the back. Some 48 million of this type
were produced.
(ii) International Registered (Track on 2) (RR
series numbers)
Intended for mail for overseas destinations,
this blue stamp was sold at RM1, covering the
registration fee, but not including postage.
It had three peel-off strips and was undated.
The text was in English with a Bahasa
Malaysia translation on the back (Fig 3). Some
three million were printed.
(iii) Track on 3
The ‘TRACK ON 3’ stamps were probably
the Foreign Registered magenta stamp for
use on non-UPU-compliant incoming mail.
This stamp has not been reported in Series
1 format, but logically must have existed. It
certainly exists in a later format.
(iv) Postal Service Registered (Track on 4)
(RS series numbers)
A green stamp was used by post offices (and
the Philatelic Bureau) for official mail which
was exempt from the registration fee. These
stamps should only be found used, as mint
RS-series stamps were not made available to
the general public (Fig 4). Some 2.8 million
were produced.
(v) Privileged Registered (Track on 5) (RP
series numbers)
The original RM1.30 domestic stamp blank
(without the black printing that added the
serial number and barcode) was subsequently
used to provide a second official stamp
type. These stamps were intended for use by
agencies, such as the Armed Forces, Police
and Inland Revenue, which had free domestic
postage but which had to pay the registration
fee. The form part was overprinted in black
to obliterate the blue text ‘TRACK ON 1’ and
‘RM1.30’. At the same time, the stamp part
was overprinted ‘RM1.00 TRACK ON 5’ in
black at the foot of the stamp, together with
a number in the RP series (Fig 5). Various
versions of overprint are recorded.
PosDAFTAR Envelope (2 April 2001)
The pre-paid envelope for domestic mail was
originally sold at RM2; the price including
postage up to 100g. and 3mm in thickness.
A pre-affixed stamp similar in size to the
Series 1 stamp but of a hybrid format similar
to Series 2 was pre-affixed at bottom left.
The back bore a pre-printed ‘returned mail’
label (a somewhat pessimistic approach!).
The flap bore the return address block and
was extended with instructions and a receipt,
which was rouletted so that it could be torn
off. The stamp was printed with an additional
serial number label, but this was removed
during manufacture and affixed to the receipt
G.S.M. October 2013
Figs 2 and 3 RM1.30 domestic and RM1 international series 1 as issued
on backing forms
Above: Fig 4 Used Series 1 label for official
mail (section B removed by postman)
Right: Fig 5 RM1 Privilege User Series 1 label
All images are reduced on these pages
on the flap; the die-cut impression for this label could be seen up the right-hand side of the
stamp. The flap was closed using a peel-off self-adhesive strip.
There have probably been a number of subsequent printings, but the only one seen by the
author was dated July 2006. The envelope was now only pre-paid for 50g., but was still sold at
RM2 and a thicker 6mm enclosure was allowed. A number of design alterations had been made
to the envelope and the pre-affixed stamp had been reduced in size.
Series 2 stamps (2002)
Circa April 2002, a new, smaller series of stamps was introduced; being a more convenient
59×82mm and enabling the envelope size limit to be removed. The new stamps had the same
features as Series 1, but in a more compact format with the face value on the strip at the left
which is retained by the user.
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Malaysia’s ‘PosDAFTAR’ Registration System
First to appear, circa April 2002, was the
RM1.30 domestic stamp, of which some
72 million were produced before the next
change (Fig 6). The registration rate for
domestic mail rose from RM1 to RM1.40 from
1 March 2005, at which point the domestic
registration stamp was reissued with the face
value increased to RM1.70 (including 30s. for
postage). Some 12 million were produced
with the changed price. From August 2005
new printings had the order date added to
the left-hand portion of the stamp. The date
therefore did not appear on a used stamp. For
the domestic stamp, four printings between
‘AUG2005’ and ‘NOV2005’ have been
recorded, totalling some 16 million stamps.
Following a massive increase in the overseas
registration fee, the Series 2 version of the
blue international stamp now had a face
value of RM3.50 (plus postage) (Fig 7). It
has not been seen by the author used before
28 January 2003, but was probably issued
around the same time as the domestic one.
Some four million were printed. The face
value rose again from RM3.50 to RM3.90 in
October 2005 (Fig 8). New printings showed
the new value and bore the date ‘OCT 2005’.
About a million were printed.
From the 25 April 2002 new issues mailing,
the Kuala Lumpur Philatelic Bureau started
using the Series 2 green official stamp (Fig 9).
It is likely that post offices were issued with
them around the same time. Some 6 million
were printed, with a change to low-OBA paper
early in the run. From 1 July 2002, the Bureau
had to pay RM1 for each item registered,
but no change was made to the stamp.
From the ‘JAN2006’ printing, the date
appeared on the backing form of the last
million or so stamps.
As the large-format RP00 series was
still in use in 2009, it is believed that
no Series 2 RP series stamps were
produced.
Foreign Registered (RF Series numbers)
Only, so far, known in its Series 2 form,
the 58×55mm RF stamp was printed
in magenta and had three peel-off
barcode strips. It has been seen, by
the author, only used with Part A
removed (Fig 10). Mint stamps were
not made available to the general
public. Some 12 million RF-series labels
had been printed by the end of 2011, but they
are so rarely seen in this country that it is not
possible to give any detailed information.
Figs 6 to 8 Series 2 RM1.30
domestic, RM3.50 international,
RM3.90 OCT2005 international
unused on backing forms
Left: Fig 9 Used, but
complete, Series 2 official
Fig 10 Foreign registered
Series 2 used (section A
removed by postman)
Fig 11 RM3.90 series
3 with printing date
on stamp
Series 3 stamps
(November 2005)
New printings from November 2005 had
the printing order date shown on both the
receipt and on Section A of the stamp itself
(Fig 11). In all other respects, the design of
the stamps remained unchanged. Some 76
million domestic stamps were produced in
26 known printings between November 2005
and July 2008. About 3.5 million international
stamps resulted from 13 known printings
between June 2006 and December 2007, with
a similar number of official stamps from 17
known printings between January 2006 and
June 2008 (Fig 12).
Series 4 stamps (July 2008)
Printings of the registration stamps from midJuly 2008 had the new Pos Malaysia emblem
on the receipt part of the form (Fig 13). This
included the remaining part of orders dated
134
Fig 12 Official Series 3, used
but complete, with date
Fig 13 Domestic Series 4 RM1.70 with
new Pos Malaysia emblem
G.S.M. October 2013
Malaysia’s ‘PosDAFTAR’ Registration System
earlier, such as the
December 2007 order
for international stamps.
The RM1.70 domestic
stamp had eight
printings between July
2008 and May 2010.
The March 2009 and
later orders had design
changes to the receipt
section. Some 40 million
were printed.
On 1 July 2010, the
price of domestic registration rose from
RM1.40 to RM1.60. Coupled with the rise in
minimum domestic letter postage from 30s.
to 60s., this resulted in a rise in the cost of
domestic registration stamps from RM1.70 to
RM2.20 (Fig 14). Existing stamps remained
valid for their marked
price only and had to
be supplemented with
postage stamps. No
examples have been seen
of price change labels
being used. After the
rate increase, the first
order so far recorded
was dated October 2010,
seen in use in March
2011, but reprints were
probably also ordered in
July/August 2010. Unlike
previous issues, its face
value ‘RM2.20’ appeared
on the ‘A’ section, to the
right of the ‘Insured Value’
boxes. Five known printings between October
2010 and December 2011 covered some 25
million stamps.
Issues of the RM3.90 international stamp
with the new emblem began part of the way
through the December 2007 order. On 1 July
2010, the price of international registration
stamps rose by 20s. from RM3.90 to RM4.10.
Existing issued stamps remained valid for
their marked price only and had to be
supplemented with postage stamps. Counter
clerks were issued with adhesive ‘RM4.10’
labels to cover the original price on the
counterfoil of counter stocks of both Series
3 and Series 4 stamps (Fig 15), but some
stocks were reported to have been revalued
in manuscript due to a shortage of labels.
After the rate increase, the first recorded
printing was dated August 2010. Its face value
‘RM4.10’ now appeared on the ‘A’ section
(Fig 16). Four printings to August 2011
account for about 1 million stamps.
On official stamps, as used, the section
with the Pos Malaysia emblem is not normally
present, but issues from January 2009
conformed with the changes to the other
values. The border had ‘URUSAN RASMI
POS’ (Official Postal Business) in place of
the face value. Some 2 million stamps are
recorded printed between January 2009 and
October 2010. As before, mint stamps were
not made available to the general public,
but a few unused examples are known (Fig
17). From 1 March 2011, Philatelic Bureau
mailings were subject to the full appropriate
registration fee. Therefore, from the 7 July
2011 mailing, the Kuala Lumpur Philatelic
Bureau used normal international stamps,
but the green stamps appear to remain in use
for official business.
Originally inscribed ‘TRACK ON 5’, the
G.S.M. October 2013
Left: Fig 14 Domestic Series 4 RM2.20 with face value on Section A of the
stamp and larger Pos Malaysia emblem (Reduced)
Right: Fig 15
Series 3 RM3.90
repriced to
RM4.10 by
adhesive label
Fig 16 Series 4 with value on stamp
Fig 17 Series 4
official unused
Fig 18 RM1.60 Privilege
User Series 4
Fig 19 RM2.80 AR Series 4
Fig 20 PosDaftar AR
card
All images are reduced
on these page
Privilege Domestic Registered RPseries stamps became, at an unknown
point, ‘TRACK ON 6’, with a brown
stamp in Series 4 format (Fig 18).
The only examples seen by the
author were from a March 2011
printing and priced RM1.60. The
number indicated a total usage to
date of some 20 million stamps since
the introduction of the system.
Advice of Receipt Domestic Registered (Track
on 7) (RA series numbers) (1 December 2011)
From 1 December 2011, domestic AR registered mail was brought into the PosDaftar system as
‘TRACK ON 7’ with a yellow stamp numbered in the RA series (Fig 19). The initial batch of at
least half a million PosDaftar stamps were dated ‘NOV 2011’ and priced RM2.80. They are the
first stamps to dispense with the original upper-case italic ‘PosDAFTAR’ emblem in favour of a
mixed-case emblem. A new AR reply card was introduced at the same time (Fig 20).
Further reading
Further information on these issues can be found in Volume 3 of Malaysia and The Federation of
Malaya – Their Stamps and Postal Stationery by the present author, published by the Malaya Study
Group.
135