To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), stamps featuring iconic or historical buildings of the 10 ASEAN Member Countries will be released on 8 August 2007 in the respective Member Countries.
Based on the theme, “Ancient or Modern Architecture”, this is also the first joint stamp issue for the 10 ASEAN Member Countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The stamp issue will be unveiled by Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore at the ASEAN Day Reception on 7 August 2007.
Here is an overview of the specially selected buildings of the 10 ASEAN Member Countries to be featured on the stamps (in alphabetical order):
Brunei – Secretariat Building
The Secretariat Building, built in 1952, is one of the beautiful and modern buildings in the centre of the Bandar Seri Begawan, previously known as Brunei Town. A memorial carving on Brunei history and the national enterprise development in older times are found on the upper side of the anterior building facing Jalan Elizabeth II.
Cambodia - National Museum of Cambodia
Designed by George Groslier and the Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens, the National Museum was built in 1917 in traditional Khmer style and inaugurated in 1920 by King Sisowat. The National Museum houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer archeological, religious and artistic artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries.
Indonesia – Fatahillah Museum, Jakarta
Fatahillah Museum, also known as Jakarta History Museum, displays the history of the development of the City of Jakarta, both the events and the community, from pre-history till present day. The Fatahillah Museum is located in the historic Old Jakarta Kota area, Taman Fatahillah square, which was once the heart of the colonial administration in the 18th century. It underwent a major restoration in the 1970s.
Laos – Lao Typical House
A typical Lao house is built on stilts as most Lao villages are often built near rivers and streams that sometimes flood in the rainy season. Building the house on stilts protects it against mud and floods. Usually there is a front porch and a clear space inside under the roof but open to the street. The animals are kept in pens under the house. As Lao people like company, the houses in a Lao village are built close together with no real yard.
Malaysia – Malayan Railway Headquarters Building, Kuala Lumpur
Completed in 1910 to replace an older station on the same site, the station was Kuala Lumpur's railway hub in the city for the Federated Malay States Railway and Malayan Railway, before Kuala Lumpur Sentral assumed much of the its role in 2001. The station is notable for its architecture, adopting a mixture of Eastern and Western designs.
Myanmar – Yangon Post Office
The Yangon Post Office is one of the largest post offices in Myanmar. It is one of the most historical places and national heritage building in Yangon – the business centre of Myanmar. Established in 1908, the Yangon Post Office has many arch windows and giant entrances to facilitate better air ventilation and sufficient lighting. The Yangon Post Office was renamed as Divisional Communication (Post) of Yangon Division and is one of the vital separate units of postal organisation.
The Philippines - Malacañang Palace
Malacañang Palace is the official residence of the President of the Philippines. The palace is located along the north bank of the Pasig River in Manila. It is called Palasyo ng Malakanyang in Filipino, and Malacañang Palace when referred to as the official residence of the President of the Philippines. Malacañang Palace is depicted on the verso (back) side of the present-day 20-peso bill.
Singapore - National Museum of Singapore
The National Museum of Singapore is an iconic architectural landmark that brings together the old and the new. It was originally established as the Raffles Library and Museum. Its permanent home at Stamford Road was opened to the public in 1887, and the museum was a centre for research in Southeast Asian zoological and ethnographic collections. In 1960, the library became a separate entity from the museum, with the former moving into new premises. The Raffles Museum was renamed the National Museum in 1969, and its focus was changed to reflect the policies of the nation which became an independent republic in 1965. The refurbished National Museum of Singapore was officially opened in December 2006.
Thailand - Vimanmek Mansion, Bangkok
Built in 1900 by royal command of King Rama V, Vimanmek Mansion was the (King’s) first permanent residence in the Dusit Garden. It is the world's largest golden teakwood mansion with elaborate architectural style reflecting western influence. The building has two right-angled wings and is three-storied except for the part where King Rama V resided, which is octagonal and four-storied.
Vietnam – Presidential Palace, Hanoi
The Presidential Palace of Vietnam, located in the city of Hanoi was built between 1900 and 1906 to house the French Governor-General of Indochina. It was constructed by Auguste Henri Vildieu, the official French architect for Vietnam. Today, Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum stands nearby and the Presidential Palace remains part of Hanoi’s cultural core. The palace hosts government meetings.
