Read all about it in Soldier Magazine!

The new Foreign Decorations Rules were constructed and applied retrospectively in November 2005 in order to reduce the PJM issued in 2004 to the formal status of a ‘souvenir’. For that is the term used by the MoD and Foreign Office specifically to describe the PJM. The Soldier Magazine article places ‘souvenirs’ in the same category as ‘trinkets’, and, therefore, the PJM is ... dada da da ... Bling!

Thus, an honourable medal that several high ranking officers have stated publicly that they intend to wear is, in fact, ... Bling!

Food for thought? Or even the odd billet doux to the Managing Editor, John Elliott at jelliott@soldiermagazine.co.uk. When writing, please remember that Soldier Magazine does not call the PJM Bling ... it's the civil servants at the MoD, Foreign Office, and Cabinet Office who did that - formally! Soldier Magazine has produced a long-overdue article highlighting the scandal of Bling ... one which makes a lot of money for the Bling manufacturers! So, if you support Soldier Magazine's article, please say so. It can only help the case for the PJM which is an approved medal. albeit not for wear by Brits ... yet.

Here is the article, copyright Soldier Magazine, December 2006:

http://soldiermagazine.co.uk/mag/feature5.htm


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

It is very interesting to note that in this Soldier article they are talking about 'looking down' on people who wear commemorative medals, or controlling parades and challenging those who are wearing unauthorised medals BUT not one word of our Royal Household and the souvenir medals they wear. I am sure they would jump quickly upon ordinary citizens whom they suspect of wearing unauthorised medals whilst fawning to our Prince of the Realm, his brother and sister, and two children, who all wear souvenir medals. We are in the 21st. century and these people will have to come up with a more sound procedure to control the unauthorised wearing of medals rather than 'look down upon' the great unwashed whilst bowing and scraping to others, all of whom are equally guilty. We will not be a banana state for very much longer.

You are right Andy, Charles, Edward, Harry, Wills they all look proper twerps, but there again I suppose one day Harry will see a bit of action and get a chest full well earned, good luck to him too, but for the others it makes a mockery of what others went through.

As you say, one day soon...........


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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Sent to the Editor of Soldier Magazine.

I was interested in the article about ‘bling’ medals in Soldier Magazine.

More recently the Queen approved the award – but not the wearing of – the Government of Malaysia’s Pingat Jasa Malaysian Medal to British veterans who served in Malaya-Borneo and Malaysia between 1957 and 1966.

Australia and New Zealand cleared the way for the PJM to be worn, while British veterans fell foul of rules disqualifying campaigns which took place more than five years ago and operations for which the recipient had already received a British award.

Field Marshal Bramall is among the many Malaya veterans who believe that decision is ill-judged.

This decision of HM Government is nothing short of scandalous and is an insult to the King and people of Malaysia as well as the veterans who took part in this campaign. No one wants to see our service personnel festooned like the Americans with medals for any old thing that they fancy but this medal is an honour that the Malaysians wanted to give to all Commonwealth Service men and women to celebrate the 40th. anniversary of the end of the troubles and the 50th. anniversary of their independence.

If Prince Phillip can get the Malta medal allowed and Blair the Russian medals the decision in regard to the PJM stinks. Perhaps we would get it if we gave the Labour Party a loan?

John Ireland
Wiltshire

Please contact this magazine and let them know that the PJM is not "BLING"
You do not have to put your hand in your pocket to buy a PJM it is awarded for Service and is issued free of charge.

Soldier Magazine, Ordnance Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2DU
Fax: 01252 347358

EDITORIAL TEAM TELEPHONE EMAIL
John Elliott - Managing Editor

Andy Simms - Editor

Andrea Webb - Writer

Cliff Caswell - Writer

Karen Thomas - Writer

Doreen Cadwallader - Editorial Assistant
01252 347356

01252 347355

01252 340462

01252 340753

01252 347154

01252 347300
jelliott@soldiermagazine.co.uk

asimms@soldiermagazine.co.uk

awebb@soldiermagazine.co.uk

ccaswell@soldiermagazine.co.uk

kthomas@soldiermagazine.co.uk

dcadwallader@soldiermagazine.co.uk

Fear not lads and lasses! When wearing your REAL PJMs on parade you will in an instant be able to see the 'counterfeit' copy as the Palm fronds on the REPLICA (Exact copy, pah!) are reverse to the official ones


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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I am absolutely astounded at the proliferation of so-called "Medals". Here's an interesting question. In 1981, I sustained an injury whilst throwing one of Her Majesty's helicopters into a hillside. Over the years the injuries sustained have eventualy put me in a wheelchair. (Big deal !) What I am leading up to is that amazing "Gong" called the "Hors de Combat" which appears to be French for "everyone in receipt of a War Pension should get one" ! ! ! The system has gone mad, and it does NOT help our cause. Tony

George F wrote:

John Cooper wrote:

Fear not lads and lasses! When wearing your REAL PJMs on parade you will in an instant be able to see the 'counterfeit' copy as the Palm fronds on the REPLICA (Exact copy, pah!) are reverse to the official ones

John, some other companies have struck replicia's like you say.

Having a flaw, (mistake) like reversed palm fronds, or a stamp 'replica', or 'copy' on the medal is to keep within copyright law.


George F

George

A replica (in my book) is an exact copy of the original item, therefore only the Official PJMs released by The Malaysian Government are the ones we should be interested in, the others are TRINKETS, perhaps we can club together, buy one and send it to Phoney Coney in a Christmas Cracker'!


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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George F wrote:

John Cooper wrote:

George F wrote:

John Cooper wrote:

Fear not lads and lasses! When wearing your REAL PJMs on parade you will in an instant be able to see the 'counterfeit' copy as the Palm fronds on the REPLICA (Exact copy, pah!) are reverse to the official ones

John, some other companies have struck replicia's like you say.

Having a flaw, (mistake) like reversed palm fronds, or a stamp 'replica', or 'copy' on the medal is to keep within copyright law.


George F

George

A replica (in my book) is an exact copy of the original item, therefore only the Official PJMs released by The Malaysian Government are the ones we should be interested in, the others are TRINKETS, perhaps we can club together, buy one and send it to Phoney Coney in a Christmas Cracker'!

John

If as you say a replica is an exact copy of the original item, please explain how do you tell the difference between a replica PJM medal and an Official PJM medal worn by two different veterans?

George

George

If the magazines are selling REPLICA medals then they SHOULD be EXACTLY the same as the PJM Official, but they are not, the palm fronds are crossed on the 'rip off' PJM the opposite way to the authentic one. I am informed (yonks back) that there is an identical one on sale in a magazine to the PJM if there is can someone point me to the URL where it is shown.


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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Exactly George so therefore they are breaking the Trades Description Act (UK) if they are advertising these as Replicas!


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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George,
The Royal Mint of Malaysia produces military medals, commemorative sport medals, gold and precious metal coins, and provides full Malaysian currency coin minting, processing and distribution facilities. It is appointed by the Malaysian Government and Malaysia's Central Bank (Bank Negara), to provide such. Its owners are former Deputy Governors of Bank Negara, and its patron is the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahatihir Mohamad.
No medals can be produced, nor coins minted, by the Royal Mint of Malaysia, unless through Malaysian Government appointment.
It is therefore only with Government approval that they could conclude any "little deals" with Awards Productions or any other organisations, which would seem a strange thing to do as the process for issue of the PJM through the Malaysian Government seems very thorough, and not designed in any way to devalue the PJM by pumping the market with copies or replicas.
I think we need to take care when raising issues of great sensitivity regarding the Malaysian Government, and one of its foremost financial service organisations (RMM).

George,
Many thanks for your post. Please be assured that I am not offended in any way. Its our Malaysian friends I am considering as living here for many years I have come to understand their sensitivities on issues regarding their Government and business entities, and as we know many Malaysian citizens regularly log onto this site.
Fully support your comments on sensitivity with regards to all those involved in the process for the right to wear, including HM.

George F wrote:

Offence can sometimes be taken, when there is no offence meant.

How very true, George.

The Internet and Forums are dodgy places to write text - it means not what the writer intends but what the reader comprehends.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200surreyheadlines/tm_headline=commons-support-for-veteran-over-ban&method=full&objectid=18217455&siteid=50101-name_page.html

See the article at the above link....Well done Gerry!!!


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...................'Jock'
Paroi...Rasah...Batu Signals Troop.

'Jock' Fenton wrote:

http://icsurreyonline.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200surreyheadlines/tm_headline=commons-support-for-veteran-over-ban&method=full&objectid=18217455&siteid=50101-name_page.html

See the article at the above link....Well done Gerry!!!

Much as it grinds to agree wi yon man in Canada, I second that Gerry. Only joking Jock.