With the introduction of Garden Flower National Definitives on July 1, 2010 and the subsequent of printing of these definitives in format of 100-stamp sheet for all the eight denominations (30s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, RM1 and RM2), one may ask earnestly what will be happening to the 2005 Bird Definitives and 1986 Fruit and Agro-Based Definitives. Well, Pos Malaysia is actually messing up the definitive stamps. When a new definitive stamp set is released, the new definitive stamps are supposed to replace all the old ones. However, Pos Malaysia does not seem to follow this rule. Some denominations of the old definitives are still in use together with the new ones, and some denominations of the new ones are not reprinted to be in use...... it is really a mess.
Before the introduction of the Garden Flower National Definitives, definitives of various issues with denominations 5s, 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, RM1, RM2, RM5, RM10 and RM20 were being in circulation or use. The 5s and 10s definitives were of 1986 Agro-Based Wilayah Persekutuan; the 20s, 30s, 50s, RM1 and RM5 were of 2005 Bird Definitives; and the 40s, RM2, RM10 and RM20 were of 1986 Fruit Definitives. It is shame that the 2007 Garden Flower State Definitives are not materialized to be real definitives (it rather becomes "commemoratives"). Now, the question in most collectors' mind is that will the introduction of Garden Flower National Definitives make the murky situation becomes more murky?
Well, with the revision of postal tariff the denomination 40s is longer neccessary. So, the 1986 Fruit (rambutan) Defintive would most likely be phased out. The denominations 30s, 50s and RM1 of 2005 Bird Definitives and the denomination RM2 of 1986 Fruit (starfruit) Definitives would be replaced by the Garden Flower National Definitives 30s, 50s, RM1 and RM2. How about denominations 5s and 10s of 1986 Agro-Based Definitives? Well, there are so far no new definitives with these two denominations, meaning that these two Agro-Based Definitives would most likely in circulation until new definitives are issued. If Pos Malaysia decides to round up 5s to 10s for postal rates, then the 5s denomination definitive is longer needed. The denomination 20s is neccessary for topping up value, and the Garden Flower National Definitives do not have 20s denomination, therefore, the 2005 Bird Definitive 20s would be in circulation until new definitives are issued. The same story goes to RM5, RM10 and RM20 as that of 20s. So, we would be still seeing RM5 Bird Definitive, RM10 (mango) and RM20 (papaya) Fruit Definitives. These high denominations (RM5, RM10 and RM20) are needed for parcel and bulky mail though in small quantity compared to low denominations.
So, what will be the most likely situation of definitive stamps of Malaysia? Honestly, it is still a mess with 1986 Agro-Based, 1986 Fruit, 2005 Bird and 2010 Garden Flower National Definitives in use side by side! I am learned that there could be new definitives (low denominations) released next year, and these low denomination defintives would be state definitives.
