Dear Mr Pearson

I hope you have had time to reflect on your written ministerial statement dated 31 January 2006 concerning the Malaysian Service Medal. You can see how unpopular the restriction on wearing this medal by seeing the comments by veterans on the following web sites:

http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wms/?id=2006-01-31a.10WS.4

www.fight4thepjm.org/forum/

The Honours Directorate made a grave error in the advice they gave you on which you based your statement. Issues of double medalling are not valid since it is estimated by some that only about half the men and women who are eligible to receive the PJM actually received the British GSM. To accept and then not wear an award graciously given to us by the King and Government of a fellow Commonwealth country is a real snub to the country of Malaysia as well as to the veterans who served there.

I hope you reconsider your position since there is no political mileage for  in you sticking to the restriction on wearing the medal which veterans will not abide by.  Compare your statement with that of The Minister of Veterans' Affairs in Australia:

Australian Service Men and Women Honoured
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon, De-Anne Kelly, in her role as Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, recently announced that the Malaysian Government will award a commemorative medal to Australian servicemen and women who served in Malaysia between 1957 and 1966.  The Malaysian Government has produced the award, titled ‘Pingat Jasa Malaysia’ (PJM), in recognition of their “distinguished
chivalry, gallantry, sacrifice, or loyalty” in contributing to the freedom of independence of Malaysia.

"Australia and Malaysia have enjoyed a long standing and valued relationship based on a common goal of supporting regional stability and security”, Mrs Kelly said. "This acknowledgement of the contribution our service men and women made to the security of Malaysia and the region deepens that relationship.”

[Source: http://www.dva.gov.au/wa/activities/publications/WV-autumn/wwwFolder/005.htm]

Veterans are angry and have fired the first shot across your bows. A change in your position will cost the taxpayer nothing and make 35,000 veterans happy and a few HD committee members unhappy. It makes no sense for you to stick to your position since the advice you were given is incorrect. If you want a fight veterans are prepared to fight on so be prepared for an avalanche of correspondence and complaint to government Ministers.

Damage has already been done to Malaysian British relations over this issue.

Sincerely,
 

Hamish Waters
Borneo Veteran