Woman Behind Stamps of Brunei
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Her strong emphasis on local identity stressing inure on local culture and history has made her designs on stamps commemorating various events much sought after by the Postal Services Department.

Siti Zaleha Hj Kaprawi, the designer for the stamps and official first day cover to commemorate the Asean-Japan Exchange Year 2003 which were released yesterday, said the importance of maintaining national identity through the preservation of the arts and cultural heritage has taken on a whole new sense of urgency in today's fast-changing world.

Siti Zaleha said this after the official ceremony to launch the first day cover which was held at the Mail Processing Centre, Old Aiport in Berakas.

The main event was officiated by Hj Azahari bin Mohammad Ali, the Postmaster General, Postal Services Department; Ministry of Communications.

Siti Zaleha who is the Public Relations Officer cum Language Officer and Graphic Designer for the Language and Literature Bureau (DTBP), Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports, said that after the task of stamp-designing was given to her, she proceeded to build up a body of knowledge so as to incorporate the country's arts and other cultural heritages into her designs.

"In recent decades we have witnessed a vibrant revival of local cultures, along with indigenous arts, local knowledge and a new sense of pride in the distinct identities of different ethnic groups that make up our society.

"So I used this theory into my designs to help preserve collective national identity and its variances and identities while at the same time interacting with the global culture," she said.

Siti Zaleha designed first-day cover stamps for the Postal Services at least twice a year.

The design that gave her the most satisfaction was stamps to commemorate His Majesty's 50th Birthday in limited miniature sheet with serial number comprising of five $50 stamps costing $250.

Last year she also designed the stamps for the first-day cover to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Anti Corruption Bureau, 50th anniversary of the Land Department and the Golden Jubilee of Jabatan Telekom Brunei and Survey Department.

"In past years I have done first-day cover stamps to commemorate the arrival of New Millennium in 2000, 30th Anniversary of the formation of Asean in 1998, SEA Games in 1999, the International Youth Camp 2001 held here, the Sultans of Brunei Darussalam and many more," she said adding that her first stamp design was done more than 20 years ago to commemorate the official opening of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Siti Zaleha obtained her Diploma in Graphic Design and BA (Honours) Degree in Communication Media from UK and has been attached with DBP since 1974. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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