Immediate Release A Glimpse into the Islands of Singapore - Pulau Ubin Through Stamps Date of Issue: 18 July 2014 Complete set of stamps (S$2.87) Singapore, 17 July 2014 - The boomerang shaped Pulau Ubin, Singapore s second largest offshore island, lies on the Straits of Johor off the north-eastern coast of Singapore. It was once known as Granite Island. Four of its iconic landmarks are captured in this stunning new stamp issue, Islands of Singapore - Pulau Ubin. SingPost and the National Heritage Board (NHB) collaborated to launch this series of stamps which comes in four denominations - 2 nd Local, S$0.65, S$0.80 and S$1.10. Page 1 of 5
Main Jetty (2 nd Local) The main jetty on Pulau Ubin was first built by the Japanese between 1942 and 1943, and rebuilt in 1965. In 1978, a new jetty was built which was upgraded in 1994 to include a shelter and a seating area. Ferry services between Pulau Ubin and Singapore are provided by licensed bumboat operators. Chek Jawa (S$0.65) Chek Jawa, located at the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin, is a natural beach that is teeming with marine wildlife. It is also one of Singapore s richest ecosystems with six distinct habitats including mud and sandflats, mangrove, coastal forest, lagoon, coral rubble and a small island called Pulau Sekudu. The beauty of Chek Jawa lies in the fact that several different ecosystems exist in a small area. These ecosystems, the plants and animals found there, are no longer common in mainland Singapore. It is a popular natural heritage destination and boasts a visitor centre, over 1 kilometre of boardwalk and the Jejawi Tower. The Wayang Stage (S$0.80) The Wayang Stage on Pulau Ubin is located at the centre of Ubin village. The stage was originally a simple wooden structure with an attap roof but was rebuilt in 1939 and 1971. It was once a classroom for the children during the 1960s as well as a venue for election rallies. Today, it is still used for performances three times a year namely, during the fourth month of the lunar calendar, Vesak Day and Hungry Ghost Festival. A Quarry (S$1.10) Pulau Ubin was one of two main granite quarrying sites in Singapore and accounted then for approximately 25% of the granite reserves in Singapore. The mining of granite on the island started in mid 1840s and by the 1850s, government quarries were established and convicts were deployed to mine granite for the construction of historically important structures including Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca (1851), Fort Canning (1858), Raffles Lighthouse (1855), Singapore Harbour (1913), the Causeway (1923), and Fort Canning Reservoir (1926). By 1934, there were at least ten operating quarries on Pulau Ubin. The mining of granite ceased in the 1960s with the last quarry on Pulau Ubin closed in 1999. Since then, all defunct quarries have become scenic lakes. Page 2 of 5
The complete set of stamps is priced at S$2.87. Other products include a Pre-Cancelled First Day Cover affixed with the complete set of stamps (S$3.70), and a Presentation Pack with complete set of stamps (S$4.65). The Islands of Singapore - Pulau Ubin stamp issue is available from tomorrow, 18 July 2014 at all post offices, the Singapore Philatelic Museum and online at www.stampdelight.com. Please refer to Annex 1 for more information. Pulau Ubin Commemoration Efforts The Ministry of National Development (MND) has recently launched The Ubin Project to gather public feedback and work with the community to preserve and sensitively enhance the island, so that Pulau Ubin remains an enjoyable rustic destination for all. In May this year, a broad network of stakeholders was formed to share their ideas on how to continue to enhance Ubin as a rustic sanctuary that is both charming and unique. Called the Friends of Ubin Network (FUN), it included members of various heritage and nature groups, socio-anthropologists, students and volunteers. The Ministry has also launched a microsite for Singaporeans to share their ideas on how to enhance the island s natural environment, biodiversity and history. The Ministry has received a number of good feedback thus far and will be studying these suggestions in detail. Members of the public who wish to find out more about the charming island and join in the Ubin conversation may visit the microsite at www.mnd.gov.sg/ubin. On its part, NHB produced a documentary on the boat operators of Pulau Ubin as part of its Heritage In Episodes series and developed a virtual tour of Pulau Ubin s main hub (around the jetty area) as part of its Walking Through Heritage series (https://www.nhb.gov.sg/nhbportal/resources/walkingthroughheritage/pulauubin). In addition, NHB collaborated with National Parks Board to showcase Pulau Ubin as part of the Stories from Singapore s Islands exhibition currently on display at the National Museum of Singapore from 2 June to 10 August 2014. - End - Page 3 of 5
ANNEX 1 Items on Sale First Day Cover (without stamps) Complete set of stamps Pre-cancelled First Day Cover affixed with stamps Presentation Pack Price S$0.25* S$2.87 S$3.70* S$4.65* Technical Details Date of Issue : 18 July 2014 Denominations : 2 nd Local, S$0.65, S$0.80 and S$1.10 Stamp Size : 40mm x 30mm Perforation : 13 Paper : Unwatermarked Printing Process : Offset Lithography Printer : The Lowe Martin Group Sheet Content : 10 stamps per sheet Designer : Eric Kong (Design Vizio) * Prices inclusive of prevailing GST for purchases within Singapore 2 nd Local stamps can be used to make up the postage for overseas mail Page 4 of 5
About Singapore Post Limited (Reg. No. 199201623M) Singapore Post (SingPost) is the leading provider of mail, logistics and ecommerce solutions in Singapore and the Asia Pacific region, with operations in more than 10 countries. As Singapore s national postal service provider, SingPost offers trusted communications through domestic and international postal services as well as end-to-end integrated mail solutions covering secure data printing, letter-shopping, delivery and mailroom management, among others. Leveraging its regional network and infrastructure, SingPost offers fully integrated ecommerce logistics solutions covering the four areas of freight, customs & regulations management, warehousing & fulfilment, last mile delivery & returns as well as ecommerce web services, to its customers. SingPost was listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange in 2003. To learn more about SingPost, please visit www.singpost.com. About the National Heritage Board The National Heritage Board (NHB) was formed on 1 August 1993. Its mission is to foster nationhood, promote identity building, and champion the development of a vibrant cultural and heritage sector in Singapore. As the custodian of Singapore s heritage, NHB is responsible for telling the Singapore story, sharing the Singaporean experience and imparting our Singapore spirit. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans through a shared experience. NHB manages the national museums, community heritage institutions, Heritage Conservation Centre, Preservation of Sites and Monuments and the Language Councils Secretariat. NHB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information. About the Ministry of National Development Established in 1959, the Ministry of National Development (MND) is the key government ministry responsible for national land use planning and development. We guide Singapore s land use planning, urban redevelopment and building conservation, deliver affordable and quality public housing, develop an efficient construction industry to ensure a safe, quality and sustainable built environment, provide and manage parks, open spaces and the conservation of nature areas, maintain a high standard of primary food safety and animal and plant health, as well as protect consumer interest by raising the professionalism in the real estate agent industry. The MND s vision for Singapore is An Endearing Home and a Distinctive Global City. In MND, we aim to achieve this by developing world-class infrastructure, creating a vibrant and sustainable living environment and building rooted and cohesive communities. For general information on SingPost, visit us at www.singpost.com Page 5 of 5