Birkenhead RSA

THE PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA MEDAL

Obverse: The Coat of Arms of the government of Malaysia, below which are the words "JASA MALAYSIA".

Reverse: A relief map of Malaysia, below which are the letters "P.J.M.".

Size: 32mm in diameter.

Ribbon: 35mm wide. A wide red centre stripe, outside of which are two medium blue stripes, then two narrow yellow stripes.

Suspension: By a straight suspender that is attached to the top of the medal by crossed fern fronds.

The Government of Malaysia offered to confer the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal on eligible New Zealand servicemen and women in appreciation of their service in Malaysia with the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve, from the declaration of Malayan Independence, to the end of the Confrontation. The medal was awarded for service between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966 (the end date was extended by the Government of Malaysia from the official end of the Confrontation on 12 August 1966, to include a 'cooling off period'). Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II approved the unrestricted acceptance and wear of the PJM medal by New Zealanders who served as part of the New Zealand military contribution to Malaya/Malaysia between 31 August 1957 and 31 December 1966.

Eligibility:
Two categories of eligibility will be assessed by Headquarters New Zealand Defence Force for the award of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal.

Category One:
a. Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit or formation, and who served in the prescribed operational area of Malaysia and Singapore, in direct support of operations in Malaysia, for 90 days or more, in the aggregate, as follows:
(1) Malaysia during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive; and / or
(2) Singapore during the period 31 August 1957 to 9 August 1965 inclusive.

Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a member was posted for operations to Malaya or Malaysia on or before 12 August 1966.

The prescribed operational area of Malaysia and Singapore is the landmass of East Malaysia (that is: the States of Sabah and Sarawak on the Island of Borneo), the Malay Peninsula, and the Island of Singapore. The prescribed operational area also includes the sea area of Malaysia.

b. Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces who were on the posted strength of a unit or formation outside of the prescribed operational area detailed in paragraph a. above, but who served in a secondary role in indirect support of operations in Malaysia for 180 days or more, in the aggregate, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive.

The secondary role is in respect of service with RNZN ships patrolling outside of the prescribed operational area whilst allocated to the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve.

Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a member was serving on a RNZN ship allocated to the Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve on or before 12 August 1966.

c. Those New Zealand citizens who served in a civilian law enforcement capacity (police, home guard or security services) in the prescribed operational area of Malaysia only, in direct support of operations in Malaysia, for 90 days or more, in the aggregate, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive.

Service between 12 August 1966 and 31 December 1966 will only be aggregated as qualifying service if a person was posted for operations to Malaya or Malaysia on or before 12 August 1966.

Notes:
1. Sorties from bases outside of the operational area as prescribed at paragraph a. above do not count as qualifying service towards the award of the PJM medal. Only service by those on the posted strength of bases located in Malaysia and Singapore, and in cases where the sorties have been mounted from those bases, will be counted as qualifying service towards the award of the PJM medal. Only the first sortie from inside the prescribed operational area on any one day will be counted as qualifying service.

2. Service may be aggregated in relation to paragraphs a. and b. above. This is calculated on the basis that:
a. Service of one day in the operational area counts as one day towards qualification for the medal.
b. Service of two days in the secondary role is calculated as one day.
c. All service counts towards an aggregate of 90 days.

For example, a person who has 10 days' service in the operational area, and 160 days' service in the secondary role, will qualify for the medal on the basis of 10 + (160 ÷ 2) = 90.

Category Two:
Those members of the New Zealand Armed Forces, or those New Zealand citizens, who had their period of service in the operational area terminated by death, or by evacuation due to illness or injury or other disability due to that service, during the period 31 August 1957 to 31 December 1966 inclusive, and before the completion of the period of qualifying service prescribed in Category One.

Regulations For This Award: View Regulations (PDF document)

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THE PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA MEDAL

THE PINGAT JASA MALAYSIA MEDAL