Gerry tipped us off and George has sent confirmation - according to The Guardian Don Touhig was fired because of he gave Mr Gordon Brown advance notice of Mr Reid's planned National Veterans Day ... and so Gordon Brown stoile John Reid's thunder.

"Out, too, goes Don Touhig, a former Brown aide turned defence minister: his crime, allegedly, to tip off Brown about John Reid's as yet unannounced plans for a national veterans' day - which turned up in Brown speech on terrorism, stealing a furious Reid's thunder."

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/labour/story/0,,1769542,00.html

We know from Gerry that Don Touhig was about to write to the HD Committee making the case for the wearing of the PJM. So some Ministers are sympathetic to our just case. Please email Mr Touhig and thank him for his support at Touhigd@parliament.uk.

Mr Straw was also demoted. He was instrumental in telling the HD Committee to review the Foreign Decorations rules and so he started the initial PJM campaign for justice. Please email Mr Mr Straw and thank him for his support at Strawj@parliament.uk.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

email to Straw & Touhig saying thank you
Just done that small thing

Paul Alders wrote:

email to Straw & Touhig saying thank you
Just done that small thing

Thanks very much, Paul.

It will be meaningful to them - especialy Don Touhig who took a lot of stick from us but still kept an open mind until he came down on our side. I wish him well.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Here is the letter that I received from Don Touhig this week.



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Gerald Law (ex RAF Borneo Veteran)

Well done Gerry and Don Touhig


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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I thought that this might help so I have sent this off to Jack Straw

The Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal
To: Leader@CommonsLeader.x.gsi.gov.uk

Mr Straw MP Leader of The House of Commons

Dear Jack

As you were somewhat instrumental in getting the HD Committee to come to its senses and requesting The Queen accepts the 35000 Malaysian Veterans the right to receive the PJM when you were Foreign Secretary, I am asking for a further favour.

We are nothing but ex servicemen who have done our duty for Queen and Country and defended the Rights of Malaysians to defend its liberties from 1957-1966. 519 of our colleagues did not make it back and for that reason I am asking you to ask The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett to allow us to OFFICIALLY wear this medal to honour those that did not return. The HD ill advised Her Majesty against the right to wear the PJM

I know how busy you are with the present emergency situation but maybe two minutes of your time with Ms Beckett on the PJM issue would make this old veteran very happy

Thank you in advance

John Cooper


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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GerryL wrote:

Here is the letter that I received from Don Touhig this week.

Gerry, This is very, very good news. Brilliant stuff.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

John Cooper wrote:

I thought that this might help so I have sent this off to Jack Straw

A cracker, John.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

have sent letter and e-mails off,maybe if enough are sent.

willhastie wrote:

have sent letter and e-mails off,maybe if enough are sent.

Thanks Will, this really is our only (and last chance), so everyone please make the most of it, thanks in advance.......


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HD Committee: Amateurs in a Professional World
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John Cooper wrote:

willhastie wrote:

have sent letter and e-mails off,maybe if enough are sent.

Thanks Will, this really is our only (and last chance), so everyone please make the most of it, thanks in advance.......

I'll second that - thanks Will.

I can confirm what John says - that we are at a critical stage and all letters and emails relating to the PJM are vital. It is probably make or break over the next couple of weeks.

Barry


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia

Messages of thanks duly sent, and well earned I say !

John

George F wrote:

Dear Mr Jack Straw,

A fine letter, George.

He is the man who introduced 'formal' into the question over when the PJM was first offered to the Brits.

When asked when the UK was first offered the PJM by the Malaysians, he said the 'formal' request was made in March 2005.

We all know that these matters are first delicately and diplomatically 'tested' and 'explored' via informal routes (e.g. between High Commissions and Trade Ministers) to establish whether a formal request would be rejected (to be avoided at all costs between friendly countries).

I believe that the UK was offered the PJM at the same time as the rest of the Commonwealth in 2004 and it was probably initially rejected (look at the comments we get from the British High Commission in KL).

Only after pressure from people like you did they have to have a rethink leading to Straw's reply in the Commons in June 2005.

He was not being socially just - he was being economical with the truth. The question to him was not about 'formal requests' but he had to use those words in order to camouflage what was probably a British rejection of an informal approach from Malaysia.


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BarryF, who fought for the Right to Wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia