Thanks to a concerned stamp collector from the UK who emailed me the information. It seems somebody had stolen one of my photos of a Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach), then used it erroneously as a photo of a White-fronted Falconet in a stamp issued by Malaysia!

Here's a link to my photo as appearing in my website.

Posted in this gallery is a poster of the Malaysian stamp as posted at Facebook as well as comparison crops from the poster and my photo.

Whoever did this has committed two grave wrongs:

1. Stealing my photo and using it without permission; and
2. Serious ignorance, as the White-fronted Falconet looks very different from a Long-tailed Shrike.

I’m sure the Malaysian Government wouldn’t knowingly sanction this despicable act (which should be very embarrassing to them), and I hope they will investigate who did this and rectify the error.

Romy Ocon
Wild Bird Photographer
Manila, Philippines, October 30, 2013

_____


UPDATES – December 27, 2013 (08:56 pm Manila time)

Malaysia’s new vice – plagiarism – Malaysia Edition

VMY 2014 stamps a no-show at Stamp Week – The Malaysian Mail Online

MNS cries foul over Pos Malaysia’s alleged stamp plagiarism – The Star Online

Come clean, Pos Malaysia – FMT News

Stamp controversy: Pixman satisfied to have embarrassed Pos Malaysia – Yahoo News

Design firm breaks silence over 'stolen' stamp photos – Yahoo News

Feathers ruffled, photographers mull legal action over Pos Malaysia image theft claims - The Malaysian Mail Online

Under-fire Pos Malaysia yanks stamp posters off Facebook, says probing theft – The Malaysian Mail Online

Photographer claims Pos Malaysia stole his picture – Yahoo News

Detailed Pos Malaysia faces allegations of plagiarism over newly released stamp collection – The Star Online

New stamps spark theft, mistaken bird identity claims – The Malaysian Mail Online

Stolen photo used in a Malaysian stamp? – MSN Malaysia

Did Pos Malaysia Steal A Bird Photographer’s Image? – www.venusbuzz.com

Comparison.jpg Comparative crops

CROPS-2.jpg Matching details.

rmo744681000x800.jpg My originally posted photo

904680_435149259930169_1002902462_o.jpg Poster from Malaysia's Facebook page