In 2004, the Malaysian government offered Australia the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal to commemorate Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who served to uphold the sovereignty of Malaysia during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. The Australian government accepted the offer and issued over 8,000 medals.
Defence Honours & Awards does not assess for this award and is not the awarding authority. Replacement medals are not issued by Defence. When a foreign award that has been approved for wearing by Defence is lost or stolen, members can obtain a replica from a medals dealer at their own expense.
To apply for approval to accept and wear foreign awards, submit an application with a certified true copy of the award certificate.
Eligibility
The Malaysian Government set the following eligibility guidelines:
- Awarded to Australian Defence personnel who served in the prescribed areas from 31 August 1957 to 12 August 1966, or to 9 August 1965 for service in Singapore (the point at which it separated from the Federation of Malaysia).
- Service until 31 December 1966 also qualified for those personnel who were posted to Malaysia for service prior to 12 August 1966, but failed to qualify for the medal before that date.
- Awards were also made to those whose service was cut short as a result of death or injury as a result of service in these areas.
- Former members of the Australian Army who were recruited by the Government of the Federation of Malaya to serve as Lieutenants in the Malaysian Police Force were also eligible for the award.
- Defence will receive applications, verify the service and eligibility and facilitate the approval to wear the award in accordance with guidelines for foreign awards.
The qualifying period for the medal is 90 days for those personnel posted to units in direct support of operations in the prescribed areas. Those posted to units in indirect support are required to serve for 180 days in the prescribed areas.
Design
The medal is a circular, silver finished medal 36 millimetres in diameter. The obverse has the Malaysian national crest over the inscription Jasa Malaysia.
The reverse has a map of Malaysia over the initial letters P.J.M. The medal is connected to a decorated suspension bar by two crossed palas palm fronds.
The ribbon has a central red stripe that symbolises chivalry and gallantry. The stipe is flanked by blue stripes representing the contribution made by supporting forces during the campaigns and the appreciation of the Malaysian people. It is edged by yellow stripes representing the sovereignty of Malaysia.