‘Sport of kings’ fights for survival
Sabah Polo Association is urging the State Government to reconsider its decision on the ban of slot machine operations as the loss of revenue for the association threatens the survival of one of Sabah’s oldest sports.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Polo Association is urging the State Government to reconsider its decision on the ban of slot machine operations as the loss of revenue for the association threatens the survival of one of Sabah’s oldest sports.
In a bid to keep it alive, David C V Wang, founder of the Sabah Polo Association, hoped that an exception could be made to help keep the ‘sport of kings’ alive in Sabah.
“Polo in this Land Below the Wind has a long history and I, as the founder of Sabah Polo Association, would like to rekindle the interest in polo as it has survived over 40 years here.
“Needless to say without the income from slot machine operations our association has to close down and we are worried for the imported horses as well as the loss of jobs of our staff who are mostly Bajau,” he said when contacted here, yesterday.
David had written to the media on the roots and origins of the sport in Sabah and he hoped that his effort would have a bearing to change the State Government’s decision for the survival of the sport in Sabah.
He pointed out that the association was issued a licence to operate slot machines but that the State Government had refused to grant a trading licence for their operations.
“This is my dilemma. I wish the State Government can make an exception as it affects our efforts to keep the sport alive,” he said.
His account of the history of polo in Sabah pointed to historical events that dated back to the mid 1900s.
According to David, there was no proper written record of how and when polo set foot in British North Borneo (Sabah).
“Some reliable sources on polo activities are scantily mentioned in the book ‘The Sama Horsemen 1999’ by Irenena Obon and an article ‘Kinabalu: The Sacred Mountain of British North Borneo’ – Sabah Society Journal Vol. 30 (2013) by Vivian William Ryves.
“Irenena Obon’s book narrated briefly on how the Hasballah family which gained their prominence in Kota Belud by their untiring effort in the pursuit of excellence in equestrian skills had continued to uphold the family’s tradition of horsemanship even to this day…in the person of Datuk Galkhan bin Datu Hasballah.
“His father, OKK Hasballah who came from a line of famous Native Chiefs, led 120 Bajau horsemen on ponies in 1952 to receive His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent at the Jambatan Gantung (hanging bridge) in Kota Belud.
“The OKK’s family also played polo against the district officer J.S Chisholm’s team while the Dukes watched. Years earlier, Datuk Holkhan’s grandfather, OKK Haji Asrat, also led a contingent of riders on ponies to receive the Duke of Windsor, uncle of the Duke of Kent in Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu) in 1922, though it was not known if this event was commemorated with a game of polo,” David said.
His account of polo’s arrival in Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia) dates back to the early 1900s. David said the British Military had introduced polo games since the earliest polo club in Selangor was based on British Military property.
“Back then, polo was played purely by the Royals and elites. In the case of Sabah the Bajau horsemen were the pioneers who were coached and encouraged by the British administrators.
“Polo was not just a past time event for the Bajau horsemen. British planters and the company administrators played polo in their leisure time, but polo games and competitions had become a cultural activity for the Bajau.
“After the war when North Borneo became a British colony there were only a handful of the Bajau horsemen who had maintained the dwindling interest in polo in Kota Belud,” David said.
By virtue of their rich heritage in polo, David said it was crucial for the Bajau that the sport be kept alive. He sincerely hoped that greater consideration could be given to ensure the sport’s survival in Sabah.
For the record, Sabah Polo Association was established on August 9, 1982 by David Wang and his good friend Dr Vernon Skinner.
The idea of forming the association was mooted by David, who openly admitted that it never crossed his mind that polo existed in Kota Belud and that the Bajau horsemen had maintained its interest all this while.
The present site of the Sabah Polo Association stables and polo field are located at the RSTC Tambalang Race course in Tuaran.