PEOPLE AND PATRIOTS BEFORE PROTOCOL SAYS SANDRA GIDLEY MP

12.00.00am GMT Tue 16th Jan 2007

Sandra Gidley, MP for Romsey, has written to the Queen backing a campaign, by service veterans, to be allowed to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM). The PJM is a commemorative medal which the Government of Malaysia would like to award eligible British Citizens for their service in Malaya or Malaysia between 31 August 1957 and 12 August 1966.

While the Queen approved the recommendation of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, that British citizens may accept the award, however did not also give formal permission for the PJM to be worn. Our service veteran's counterparts in Australia and New Zealand are able to do so.

Sandra says, "This is a classic case of putting protocol before people. The Government claim that it is long standing policy that non-British medals will not be approved for events or service if the events are in the distant past or if the recipient has received a British medal for the same service. However, exceptions have been made to this rule which appears to be somewhat arbitrary.

"I have a letter from Ian McCartney, Minister for Trade and Foreign Affairs. It gives the strong impression that he has some sympathy with the campaigners as he ends by pointing out that the wearing of non-British awards is not policed, and it is a matter for the individual concerned whether they wear a non-British award without authority. I understand that some veterans are planning to do just this but people who are used to military discipline generally prefer to obey rules. It seems to me to be petty beyond belief that people who have been awarded a medal for service are not allowed to wear it because the medal isn't British! I thought we had moved beyond that sort of jingoism.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Copies of the letter to the Queen and the letter from the minister are available on request.

Sandra is one of 65 MP's who has signed EDM 375 on the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal. The text is below.

That this House applauds the generous gesture by the King and Government of Malaysia in the award of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal to British citizens for service in the Malayan Emergency; notes that Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the recommendation of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals that British citizens may accept the award; is, however, surprised that the Committee did not recommend that British citizens receiving the award should also be able to wear it; is deeply embarrassed that the Australian and New Zealand veterans of the Emergency may both receive and wear the medal; invites the Committee to reconsider the matter, bearing in mind the diminishing number of those who gave valuable service between 31st August 1957 and 12th August 1966; believes that this is a pre-eminent case for an exception to the long-standing Government policy enunciated in the written Ministerial Statement of 31st January 2006; and urges Her Majesty's Ministers to ensure that a further recommendation is made to Her Majesty, but this time one which takes full account of the generosity of a fellow Commonwealth country, the merits of the case, and the deep sense of hurt felt by British veterans, rather than being based upon a slavish observance of precedent.