Ross Andrews, of Waikouaiti, hopes to establish an Otago branch of the New Zealand Malaya Veterans' Association and is seeking expressions of interest from potential members.
A member of the national association, Mr Andrews said he was sure there would be other Malaya veterans living in Otago.
He said the nearest branches of the association were in Invercargill and Ashburton.
Mr Andrews said there was benefit in spending time with those who knew what it was like to serve in Malaya between the late 1940s and 1980s.
Branches of the Returned and Services' Association provided for all ex-service personnel and their families, which was not quite the same, he said.
"It's about comradeship and support. It's nice to know fellow ex-servicemen you may or may not have served with in any of those places, share stories and memories and just spend time together," he said.
Mr Andrews wanted to hear from anyone interested in the association, with a view to forming a committee and establishing an Otago branch.
Anyone who served in Malaya, Malaysia, Singapore and Borneo was eligible to join the association, as were their family members, he said.
Nationwide the association had 23 branches, six of which were in the South Island.
It held annual reunions and a local branch would host regular meetings and get-togethers, he said.
It was estimated more than 38,000 New Zealand service personnel served in Malaya.
Mr Andrews can be contacted on (03) 465-8040, 0274 360-074 or ross.highlandweddings@xtra.co.nz.
