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PJM medal update Print E-mail
The following update has just been received from Dennis Davidson

"In response to an POT Assoc article from Noel on the PJM in Aust, I went to our Pers Branch (Personnel Branch of NZDF) to see what the latest buzz was from the NZ side is and they passed on the following.  May be of interest to WT (Waikato) and OT (Otago) Assoc members:

The Government of Malaysia offered the Pingat Jasa Malaysia to New Zealand veterans of the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation, who served in Malaya/Malaysia between 31 Aug 57 and 31 Dec 66. We have obtained the approval of The Queen for the unrestricted acceptance and wear of the medal by New Zealand veterans (as have the Australians - but the British have just decided that the medal can only be accepted and worn by British veterans on a restricted basis).

Pers Branch is acting as the agent of the Government of Malaysia in accepting and assessing applications for the medal, and we have been receiving applications for the medal since Sept 05. Pers Branch has estimated that some 7,500 New Zealand veterans will be eligible for the PJM, and we expect to ultimately receive some 5,000 applications. Pers Branch will forward the details of eligible veterans to the Malaysian High Commission in Wellington, which will then send the lists to Kuala Lumpur for final approval. The presentation of the medal is at the discretion of the Government of Malaysia, and I note in this connection that the formal offer of the PJM Medal included the statement that all Australian and New Zealand recipients should be presented with their medals in person by a representative of the Malaysian Government.

We have also been advised that the first presentations of the PJM Medal to Australian veterans have just taken place in Canberra - the first recipient was the Australian Governor-General. This news will certainly prompt a rash of queries from Australian and New Zealand veterans as to when they can expect to receive their medals - indeed, Pers Branch is currently in receipt of a Ministerial from the National Secretary of the Malayan Veterans' Association of New Zealand which asks about the arrangements for the presentation of the PJM. As 2006 has been designated the Year of the Veteran, it would therefore be highly desirable that as many PJM Medals be presented as possible this year. To this end, Pers Branch will continue to liaise with the High Commission of Malaysia regarding any further PJM presentation ceremonies, and have offered to assist with the organisation of ceremonies either in Wellington or in the other main centres.

Cheers

Dennis Davidson
(Dennis Davidson is an ex RNZN Capt who now works as a civilian in Defence Hq)
Last Updated ( Sunday, 19 February 2006 )
 
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