Sabah Registered Mail with missing A in KINAB_LU cds

Here's a good find that has been sitting in the bought-but-not-sorted pile.

A letter franked with a block of six 20c stamp tied with LAHAD DATU/SABAH single ring c.d.s. dated 20NOV87 sent to Kuala Lumpur. There is a faint rectangular box cancel 'LAHAD DATU' in violet in the bottom of the letter. Although this was a commercial registered mail, you have got to appreciate the clear cancel strike.


Rates: 20c for surface mail within 20g + $1.00 for registration fee.

It gets interesting on the back of envelope - multiple transit postal markings. 

LAHAD DATU/ SABAH K2 - 20NOV87

KOTA KINABALU/ SABAH * - 22 NO 87

KUALA LUMPUR - 23 NOV 87

KEPONG/ KUALA LUMPUR - 24 NOV 87


If examined closely, you will notice that KINABALU is missing the letter 'A'.


What could have caused the missing alphabet?

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