Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government conferred "Satyalancana Dharma Nusa" medals on 23 Malaysian nationals who served in the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) in the recent past.
The medals were presented to the deserving Malaysians by the charge d`affaires at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Tatang B Razak, at the embassy on Tuesday.
"The Satyalancana Dharma Nusa medal is the highest distinction the Indonensian government can grant to military personnel and civilians who have done meritorious work in maintaining security and order in Indonesia," Tatang said.
"These medals are presented as an expression of Indonesia`s gratitude and appreciation for the Malaysian nationals` participation in AMM which contributed significantly to the peace process in Aceh. AMM has been deemed successful in laying a strong foundation for development in Aceh in efforts to make justice and prosperity prevail in the life of the people of Aceh," he said.
Beside Malaysia, the medals were also granted to citizens of a number of other countries, including Austria, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam who had taken part in AMM.
In the meantime, the Malaysian delegation`s chairman, Lt Col Abdul Rahman, expressed his happiness about receiving a medal.
"I extend my great thanks to the government of Indonesia for this kind of appreciation. Of the three assignments as international troops in foreign countries, this is the first time for me to get such a distinction," said Rahman who was once also sent to Bosnia.
"I hope Aceh will become a place of learning for Malaysians wishing to know more about Islam," said Rahman who was assigned in Aceh for 10 months as a member of AMM after Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) signed a peace deal in Helsinki in August 2005. (*)
