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    30 April 2012| last updated at 07:33AM

    POSTCARDS: Woo tourists with new pictures

    By M.D., Kuala Lumpur

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    I WOULD like to ask the authorities to print more postcards. I have been residing in Malaysia for some time now because of work and family reasons, and I am in the habit of sending postcards to friends and relatives back in my home country.

    I am a bit tired of sending postcards of the Petronas Twin Towers and a monkey sucking coconut juice with a straw. They will think that Malaysia has nothing else to offer.

    There are a myriad subjects that can be portrayed on postcards -- birds, flowers, plants, fruits, scenes of daily life, and what about the magnificent Malayan tiger? I haven't seen that on a postcard in ages.

    I would be the first to admit that the Twin Towers are among the most beautiful buildings in the world. Nonetheless, some people feel all tall buildings are the same, and the next skyscraper is not enough to attract them.

    And with regard to monkeys, they can be found all over the world, although I must admit that Malaysian monkeys have a fascination of their own.

    I wonder if the ministry in charge knows the value of a postcard. A postcard is inexpensive to produce but is a powerful advertising tool because it has the potential of being viewed by many people.

    First is the buyer, then the people at the post office where the stamp is bought. The postcard is then loaded on an airplane, where more people have a chance to see it, even if it travels in separate mailbags.

    When the postcard reaches its destination, it must go through the process of being sorted out, which means many more people will see it.

    Finally, the postcard will be delivered to the recipient, who will enjoy the picture on it, together with the message by the sender.

    If the postcard is attractive enough, the receiver is likely to show it to his relative and friends, and this will give the postcard and the country even more exposure.

    The cost of a postcard is between RM1 and RM4.50, and if one postcard can entice just one new tourist to visit the country for three or four days, will not this be worthwhile?

    Going back to the Twin Towers. They are many ways they can be photographed besides the aerial view. The sunlight reflects magnificently on them at sunrise and at sunset. So why are there no photographers to frame the image that will give the old picture a new, irresistible glow?

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