The petition of the citizens of the UK attracts 12 signatures, supported by 4,098 of similar sentiment, 433 of which were collected by The Southern Daily Echo. The petitioners recognise the award of the naval general service medal and the general service medal with Malaya clasp to approximately 100,000 members of the three armed forces who saw active service in Malaya during the emergency from 16 June 1948 to 31 July 1960. On 31 August 1957, the Government of the UK granted Malaya its independence and after then, to resist incursion by the Indonesian army, Commonwealth troops fought under a defence treaty signed between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the UK. Those involved in the confrontation were awarded a Borneo clasp by the UK Government and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia by the Government of Malaysia.

The petition states:

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward legislation to award an additional rosette, to be attached to the NGSM/GSM medal ribbon, to all forces who qualify for active service in Malaya between 16th June 1948 and 31st August 1957, in order to distinguish between those who served before Malaya's date of independence and those after; a similar circumstance was recognised by the award of a rosette with the South Atlantic Falklands Medal Ribbon.

Following is the full text of the petition:

[ The Petition of citizens of the United Kingdom,

Declares that they accept the recognition of the award of the NGSM/GSM with clasp M alaya to all members of the three Armed Forces of the Commonwealth, approximately 100,000 in number, a high proportion of them being National Servicemen, serving on active service in Malaya during the emergency from 16th June 1948 to its cessation on 31st of July 1960; on the 31st August 1957 the Government of the United Kingdom granted Malaya its independence.

Further declares that the Malaysian Government was formed in 1963 to include Singapore and the States of Sabah and Sarawak on the Island of Borneo; that the amalgamation of the States began a confrontation with the Indonesian Government Army; that to resist the incursion by the Indonesian Army, under the defence treaty signed between the Government of Malaysia and the Government of the United Kingdom, it was necessary to take up arms by the Commonwealth Forces resulting in an agreement being reached in August 1966; and that the Government of the United Kingdom awarded the NGSM/GSM with clasp B orneo and the Government of Malaysia awarded the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) to all Commonwealth Forces engaged during the confrontation, including all serving members still engaged on active service in Malaya post 31st July 1957, disregarding those forces actively engaged prior to that date.

The Petition further declares that those who fought and endured the struggle between 1948 and 1957 do not qualify for any further recognition for their part in the defeat of the Military Army of the Malayan Communist Party.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to bring forward legislation to award an additional rosette, to be attached to the NGSM/GSM medal ribbon, to all forces who qualify for active service in Malaya between 16th June 1948 and 31st August 1957, in order to distinguish between those who served before Malaya' s date of independence and those after; a similar circumstance was recognised by the award of a rosette with the South Atlantic Falklands Medal Ribbon.

And the Petitioners remain, etc. ]

[P000432]