Media Release

14 September 2012
Veterans of Post-War Malaya / Malaysian Operations Remembered

A national commemorative service to mark the inaugural post-war Malaya / Malaysian Operations’ commemoration will be held at the National War Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Warrior on Sunday 16 September.

The commemorative service will be attended by the Governor-General, Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Hon Nathan Guy, Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant General Rhys Jones, as well as veterans who served in Malaya.

Following the commemorative service, the Governor-General will review a march past of veterans on the Parliament Forecourt.
What: National commemorative service to mark the inaugural post-war Malaya Operations’ commemoration
Where: National War Memorial, Buckle Street, Wellington
When: 11.00am,16 September 2012

What: March past of veterans of the Malayan Emergency
Where: Parliament Forecourt
When: 1.00pm, 16 September 2012

Background

The Malayan Emergency was a conflict which took place on the Malayan Peninsula from 1948 to 1960. The Emergency was officially declared on 18 June 1948.
During the course of the Malayan Emergency New Zealanders served as part of a Commonwealth force which included Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. The Emergency was officially terminated on 31 July 1960.

Following the end of the Malayan Emergency, New Zealand personnel remained in Malaya to undertake counter-insurgency measures and border security operations.
In 1964 New Zealand and other nations began aiding Malaysia in countering Indonesia’s attempts to control the territories of North Borneo and attempts to destabilise the new Malaysian state. This became known as the Malayan Confrontation and continued until 1966, when a peace treaty was signed between Malaysia and Indonesia.

In total 1300 New Zealanders served in Malaya. Fifteen New Zealand servicemen lost their lives in the Malayan Emergency, three as a result of enemy action. Seven were killed and seven injured during the Confrontation.

The exceptional service by a number of New Zealand servicemen meant many were awarded various distinctions for their work, including the Military Cross, the Military Medal, a number of MBEs, and numerous Mentions in Despatches.

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