MORE than 250 veteran Gurkha soldiers gathered in Colchester to receive a medal from the Malaysia government.

Veterans from across the east of England and London travelled to the town’s Territorial Army Centre, in Circular Road East, to be presented with a Pingat Jasa Malaysia.

It translates to Malaysian Service Medal in English.

Brigadier General Othman Bin Jamal, of the Malaysian High Commission, was on hand to present the 265 medals yesterday.

The medal was established in 2004 to recognise members of the Malaysian Armed Forces and members of the Commonwealth forces who served in the country during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.

Brigadier General Bin Jamal said: “This is a small token to recognise their effort and their sacrifice in order to get our country stable.

“I’m very honoured to present these medals.”

Captain Mesh Umesh Pun organised the event, and selected Colchester as a location for veterans living in London and the east of England.

The ceremony was the second held in Colchester and the seventh in the country, as the team behind it work their way through everyone who has earned one.

Hasta Bahaouk Limbu, 70, travelled from London for the ceremony.

He served in Malaysia for nine years and 65 days.

He said: “We have great pride. I did a lot of difficult things during my service.”

Lok Bahadu Limbo joined the Army in 1964. He said: “It has been a very good day. I am very happy.”

The oldest veteran, who is 92, presented Brigadier General Bin Jamal with a gift during the ceremony, which was also attended by Gurkhas’ family and friends.