See the following site to see how much better off we would be without the Imperial Honours system:

http://medals.nzdf.mil.nz/news/default.htm

Also note that all members of the Royal Family sport a foreign Commonwealth medal "The New Zealand Commemoration Medal 1990"

Issue of Malaysian Medal to New Zealand Veterans
27 June 2006
Defence Minister Phil Goff announced today that the general distribution by courier of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) Medal to eligible New Zealanders who served in Malaya / Malaysia between 1957 and 1966 is to begin shortly. The issue of this medal is a Malaysian government initiative to recognise service in Malaya, Borneo, and Singapore.

“The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF), with the assistance of the Malaysian Ministry of Defence, will now undertake the issue of PJM Medals. Defence has acted as the agent for the Malaysian Government in the acceptance and vetting of applications for the PJM Medal. The distribution of the PJM Medal is the logical next step in the process of ensuring that the medal is awarded to eligible New Zealand veterans in a timely manner”, Phil Goff said.

“To date, over 2,600 applications for the PJM Medal have been received and vetted by HQNZDF. The cased medals will be couriered by Defence to eligible New Zealand veterans. The medals will be issued in alphabetical order, by surname of the applicant, to veterans resident in New Zealand and overseas. It is anticipated that the issue of the more than 2,600 medals will take several weeks to complete”, Phil Goff said.

The PJM Medal was instituted by His Majesty the King of Malaysia to commemorate service by the British Commonwealth Forces to safeguard Malaysia’s sovereignty during the Communist Insurgency and the Indonesian Confrontation. The PJM Medal honours the valour and sacrifices made by the New Zealand Forces who served in Malaya / Malaysia for at least 90 days, between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966. This also includes service in Singapore up to 9 August 1965.

Eligible veterans, and the families of deceased veterans, are encouraged to apply for the PJM Medal, if they have not already done so. Application forms should be sent to: Medals Office, Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force, Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt, New Zealand.

Further details on the eligibility criteria for the award of the PJM Medal, and application forms, are available from the NZ Defence Force Medals website.

Now this is what a real government does!!!

John

first presentation of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) Medal to New Zealand Veterans
31 March 2006
The first presentations by the Government of Malaysia to eligible New Zealand veterans of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) Medal took place today at the High Commission of Malaysia in Wellington.

Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Subhan Jasmon, Secretary General, Ministry of Defence, Malaysia, who is currently visiting New Zealand, presented PJM Medals to nineteen veterans who served in Malaya and Malaysia with the Royal New Zealand Navy, the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Federation of Malaya Police between 1957 and 1966. Recipients included Lieutenant-General Don McIver (Retired), Leonard Knapp, the President of the New Zealand Malayan Veterans’ Association, and Warrant Officer Reece Golding, Royal New Zealand Navy, one of two serving New Zealand Defence Force personnel who are eligible for the medal.

The PJM Medal recognises service by New Zealand military personnel in the defence of Malaya and Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency and the Confrontation. The medal also recognises service in direct support of the defence of Malaya and Malaysia by Royal New Zealand Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has given Her approval for unrestricted acceptance and wear of the PJM Medal by eligible New Zealand veterans.

New Zealand and Malaysia enjoy a long-standing and valuable defence relationship. The award of the PJM Medal to New Zealand is an acknowledgment of the value which the Government of Malaysia places upon the contribution made by New Zealanders to the security of Malaysia and to the region.

Applications for the medal should, in the first instance, be sent to the Medals Office, Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force (HQNZDF), Private Bag 905, Upper Hutt, New Zealand, where verification of the individual’s eligibility and service will be completed. An application form is now available for this purpose.

Once the applications have been verified, they will be forwarded to the High Commission of Malaysia, Wellington. The High Commission will undertake the approval and award of the PJM medal to eligible veterans. The Government of Malaysia will arrange for further awards of the medal to eligible New Zealand veterans during 2006. It should be noted that HQNZDF does not hold stocks of the PJM Medal, and is therefore not involved with their distribution.

The 11 July 2005 and 7 September 2005 media statements concerning the offer and acceptance of the PJM medal can be viewed on the Archived Medals News 2005 page of the NZDF Medals website.

Update 4 May 2006:

To date, approximately 2,600 applications for the PJM Medal have been received by HQNZDF. Over 1,200 names and addresses have already been forwarded to the High Commission of Malaysia, Wellington. The staff at the Medals Office are in the process of vetting the remainder of the applications.

The High Commission of Malaysia, Wellington will contact recipients in due course, when the High Commission is ready to arrange further presentations.

Remember our Colonel in Kuala Lumpur saying that our (UK) MoD have nothing to do with the PJM (apart from endorsing the applications) and that 'it is a matter for The FCO'

..............and what do the FCO do about it SFA



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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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