KUCHING: It is estimated that 4,000 former police personnel who served during the Confrontation era have not been given the ‘Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara’ (JPN medal).
Chairman of Sarawak Malaysian Ex-Police Association (PBPM), Haji Subri Haji Aman said the presentation of the JPN medals was put on hold throughout the country at the end of 2015.
“So far, more than 600 ex-policemen in Sarawak have received the medal in three ceremonies held in Kuching, Sibu and Miri,” he told reporters after the opening of the PBPM’s 40th Annual General Meeting and election of office bearers for the 2017-2020 term at Dormani Hotel here, last Saturday.
Subri added that the one-off payments of RM1,000 and RM3,00 to former police personnel was also put on hold since 2014 and not stopped as many thought.
“Up to now, the PBPM at state-level still does not know when the medal award ceremonies will be held again. However, we are asking each branch leaders to explain to their members on this matter,” he said, adding the PBPM at state-level will forward the proposal to PBPM at central-level for its further action at the ministerial level.
“The medal-award ceremonies are under the Federal government and we as an association will help the members who served during the Confrontation era to be awarded the medal,” he said.
Subri also explained that all police retirees who have served during the Confrontation era are entitled to receive the JPN medal and not necessarily be a member of the association.
He also requested police retirees in the state to register with the association so that their voices can be heard at the federal level. He added that there are around 10,000 PBPM members in the state.
Earlier, the State PBPM presented a wheelchair to PBPM Kanowit Branch chief, Liew Tubow.
Also present were IPK Sarawak Administrative Officer, Supt Jonathan James, Assistant Director of Public Services Department (JPA) Sarawak, Halfizuldin Hamdan and member of the Supreme Council of PBPM Central, Haji Mohd Sharif Kontan.
