GIDLEY HELPS MALAYSIA VETERANS' FIGHT TO WEAR MEDAL

12.00.00am GMT Wed 12th Dec 2007

A parliamentary debate regarding the medal restrictions imposed on veterans who served in the Malaysia Campaign was conducted on 11th December 2007.

While the Queen granted permission, on the recommendation of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, in January 2006 to accept the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal (PJM) awarded to them by His Majesty the King of Malaysia in commemoration of their services between 31 August 1957 and 12 August 1966, controversy arose when permission was not granted to allow UK veterans to actually wear the medal.

Sandra Gidley MP took an active role in this debate, for which she has received worldwide thanks, addressing two of the main points of contention.

Firstly, Sandra questioned the inconsistent and retrospective approach in applying 'rules' surrounding the acceptance and wearing of medals. Secondly, she has highlighted the sheer inconsistency of the Queen's agreement to allow veterans in the Commonwealth countries to proudly wear their medals whilst those in the UK are prohibited.

Commenting on the debate, Sandra Gidley MP said:

"It is unacceptable that the committee responsible for advising the Queen on matters related to the acceptance and wearing of foreign medals refuse to reconsider the PJM case.

"The inconsistent approach to accepting medals from foreign nations does nothing to honour our veterans nor does it instill much faith or respect for our brave troops currently in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The majority of Malaysia's population are Muslims. Preventing UK veterans from wearing their PJM medals does not portray a very friendly or approachable image to the other Muslim countries that we are in conflict with; it is far more important that our relationship with Malaysia should be seen as a precedent of the relationship we could have with other Muslim countries.

"Furthermore, it is simply unfair that those veterans in New Zealand and Australia, under the rule of the same Queen, are allowed to wear their medals based on the advice of Her governments there.

Veterans in the UK should have the same rights as their comrades in the Commonwealth countries and I will continue to fight to put this injustice right."

ENDS