The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
Last year, the Malaysian Government approached the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (FCO) to seek approval to present their new
commemorative medal, known as the Pingat Jasa Malaysia, to British
veterans and others who served in operations in Malaya/Malaysia
between August 1957 and August 1966.
This was not a matter for the Ministry of Defence. On behalf of the
Government, the FCO are responsible for administering the policy
relating to the acceptance and wear of non-British awards by British
citizens. They arranged for the matter to be considered by the
Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, (known as
the HD Committee). This is a non-political, inter-Departmental
committee, Chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, which advises The Queen
on such matters. The Committee considered the matter of the PJM in the
light of the Rules governing the accepting and wearing of non-British
awards and made recommendations to The Queen.
As a result, on 31st January 2005 the Minister for Trade, Investment
and Foreign Affairs, Mr Ian Pearson made a Written Ministerial
Statement to the House of Commons as follows:
Written Ministerial Statement
31 January 2006
Pingat Jasa Malaysia
“The Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) is a commemorative medal which the
Government of Malaysia would like to award to eligible British
citizens, for their service in Malaya or Malaysia between 31August
1957 and 12 August 1966.
The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (the
official committee which advises Her Majesty The Queen on matters of
honours policy) has recommended that an exception to two of the
long-established Rules governing the accepting and wearing of foreign
(including Commonwealth) awards be made, to enable the Malaysian
Government to present the PJM. Her Majesty The Queen has been
graciously pleased to approve this recommendation.
This exception to the Rules means that all of the many thousands of
eligible former members of the Armed Forces/Veterans, and others, may
receive the PJM. This will be in addition to the British General
Service Medal (with appropriate Malaya/Borneo clasp) that many
veterans will have been eligible to receive for their service in
Malaya/Borneo.
Permission to wear the PJM will not, however, formally be given. It is
long standing Government policy that non-British medals will not be
approved for events or service:
that took place
more than 5 years before initial consideration, or in connection with
events that took place in the distant past (e.g. commemorative
medals);
if the recipient
has received a British award for the same service.
However, Her Majesty's Government welcomes, and believes it is
important to recognise, the generous gesture by the King and
Government of Malaysia, and their wish to acknowledge the service
given by veterans and others in the years immediately after Malaysian
independence. The exception recommended reflects this and our strong
and important relationship with Malaysia.
The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals reviewed
the 5-year and double medalling rules, and considered that, while
there were sound reasons why they should be retained, there will be
occasions when specific circumstances require exceptions to the rules
to be recommended. When such exceptions are contemplated, the
Committee will consider each request on a case by case basis, taking
into account any special circumstances at the time. The fact that a
similar request has been approved in the past will not mean that
permission will be granted in future cases.
Applications for the PJM, and its subsequent distribution will
essentially be a matter for the Malaysian authorities, in
collaboration with the relevant British Government Departments. Large
numbers may be involved. It will take some time for the applications
to be processed and for the medal to be distributed. The Malaysian
High Commission and the relevant British Government agencies will work
together to determine eligible applicants. Veterans’ organisations and
Service and Regimental Associations will also be involved.”
The Ministry of Defence does not have lists of veterans who served in
Malaya/Borneo between August 1957 and August 1966, so people who wish
to receive this medal will have to submit applications individually,
though an appropriate veterans’ organisation. Individual applications
should not be sent to either the Ministry of Defence or the FCO.
In the first instance you should approach your own veterans’
organisation and ask them to assess and coordinate applications on
your behalf. You should supply as much information about your service
in Malaya as possible, including your name, present postal address,
telephone number and e-mail address if available. Assessment of
entitlement to the medal should be possible if you supply your Service
Number, the Ship, Regiment, Corps or Squadron in which you served, the
years you were in Malaysia and whether you have already received a
British General Service Medal with an appropriate clasp for service in
Malaya or Borneo.
The National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association (NM&BVA) has agreed
to coordinate and collate applications on behalf of its members, and
in addition, applications from veterans who are not members of any
veterans’ organisation, or association. They will assess the
entitlement to the PJM from the information provided by the applicant
and pass lists of successful applicants to the Ministry of Defence for
endorsement and despatch to the Malaysian High Commission in London.
If you are member of the NM&BVA, you can obtain
an application form by visiting the Association’s Internet website:
www.nmbva.co.uk. If you are not a
member of any other veterans’ organisation or association and wish to
claim the medal, you may use the NM&BVA’s form. Completed application
forms should be sent to the following address:
Mr Fred Burden
Membership Secretary
National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association
44, Meadgate Avenue
Great Baddow
Chelmsford
CM2 7LQ
Tel No. 01245 495238
If you do not have access to the internet may write to Mr Burden for a
form. We are advised that the medal will be issued posthumously to
next of kin.
The Ministry of Defence welcomes offers of assistance from
ex-Servicemen’s associations and organisations, including Regimental
Associations who have members who served in Malaya and Borneo between
1957 and 1966. If your organisation is prepared to coordinate
applications from your members and assess the entitlement of those who
served in Malaya and Borneo, in your Regiment, on board ship or in a
squadron, please ask your Secretary, or other designated official, to
contact the Ministry of Defence at the address below to arrange for
their contact details to be added to this website. Please write to:
“Pingat Jasa Malaysia”
Ministry of Defence
Level 8/Zone J
Main Building
Whitehall
London SW1A 2HB
The veterans’ organisations that are assisting with the exercise will
be given the qualifying criteria for the PJM published by the
Malaysian Government to assist them in determining whether or not
applicants have qualified for the medal. We must again stress that the
Ministry of Defence and FCO will not deal with individual applications
or queries about individual entitlement to the PJM.
Jump to top
Lesparkin
Copyright © koyli.com
|
