Ministerial Statement
31st.Jan.,2006
(Transcription of Ministerial Statement filed
in the Commons at 14:46 GMT, Tuesday, 31 st January 2006)
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Written Ministerial Statement
31 January 2006
Pingat Jasa Malaysia
The Minister for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs (Mr Ian
Pearson): 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
31 August 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 to 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 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 Majestys 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.