Reviving the traditional gasing spinning

SEGAMAT: Tourists to Malaysia should not miss watching 'gasing' (top) spinning, a traditional folk game that is still flourishing in Kelantan, Terengganu and Melaka.

This writer had her first taste of 'gasing pangkah' during her visit to Felda Kampung Tenang, located 14 km from Labis, a mukim in the district of Segamat, Johor recently.

Top spinning is no child play as it requires a high level of dexterity, precise timing and expert guidance. If expertly hurled, the gasing can spin for up to two hours.

This writer was among 17 media representatives who participated in the Ekspresi Media Programme: Southern Hidden Gem organised by Tourism Malaysia from Nov 23 to Nov 26, 2021.

Gasings or tops are spun with a string, cord or rope. To spin a gasing, a string is first tightly wound around the top. With the player holding on to one end of the string, the gasing is thrown or "launched" to set it spinning.

We were struggling to throw the gasing and to set it spinning on the arena when a white-moustached man approached us. He was holding a three-metre long woven string and two pieces of gasing pangkah.

"Here's how to do it," said Zulkarin Isa, 52, who swiftly showed us the way to tie the woven string tightly around his right wrist and wrap it repeatedly around his arm while holding the gasing.

In a jiffy, he used his right hand to coil the string on the gasing neck strongly before throwing the top and pulling back the string at the same time, based on the throw and pull technique.

According to Zulkarin, who is also a gasing pangkah champion, the string has to be winded neatly and tightly to keep the top spinning for a long time in the playing surface without wobbling or tipping over early.

"The traditional gasing spinning requires great skill, strength and speed. One wrong move, the player could end up with an injured leg," he told Bernama.

Zulkarin continued with the legacy of his father, who was from the first generation of Felda Kampung Tenang settlers, before shifting his focus to gasing-making.

INTEREST NURTURED SINCE 1997

Zulkarin's interest in the traditional gasing spinning was nurtured in the 1970's when he saw the first generation of Felda Kampung Telang settlers spend their pastime playing gasing.

"We initially played gasing for fun, but later placed it on the backburner as there were not enough players among the second generation family members to keep the game alive.

"After taking a hiatus, I made a comeback in 1997 and started to learn the art of gasing making through observation from other artisans in the village, until I was ready to produce my own tops for exhibitions and for sale," said Zakarin, who is the owner of Garisan Warisan Melayu.

The company produces tops for the domestic market as well as for exports to Singapore and Indonesia.

He said the secret to longer spinning time is balance, speed and strength.

"For gasing pangkah, its role is to mark the spinning gasing on its head that is usually fixed with metal.

"If the gasing pangkah is far superior, the spinning top will be thrown out from the arena and will stop rotating," he said adding that, he has so achieved a spinning record of up to 20 minutes in the arena," he said.

It came as no surprise that during our visit to his workshop at Felda Kampung Tenang, the visitor's lounge showcased various certificates and trophies of his achievements during his 20-year journey as a gasing pangkah player.

Zulkarin also took pride in achieving recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as he showed us the certificate on display at the visitor's lounge. He received the award after achieving a record for 'the longest non-stop gasing tournament (24 hours)' organised by the Persatuan Alam Warisan in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan in 2012.

"The gasing competition has set its own measurements based on the Southeast Asian standards with the gasing weighing not more than 80 grams, and a diameter of 36 to 46 cm, 12 cm in height and a cylindrical axle of not more than 0.5 cm," he said.

GASING-MAKING

Zulkarin initially used the traditional method of gasing-making, which was time and energy consuming, compared to today's craftsmen who produce tops using modern technology acquired from the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan).

"At that time, I could only afford to produce five pieces of gasing a day. The shapes and designs were based on customers's requests," he said, adding that he also produced mini-gasing souvenirs.

He said to produce high quality gasing, the types of wood needed are cengal, leban, keranji and arang bunga and in addition, the car valve is used for making the gasing's axle or 'paksi'.

"Gasing patah has 'temin' in the lower section or 'patak', the part that is located beneath the fruit of the gasing, which is made of thick zinc, while the weight is located at the side or the 'labu' (fruit)," he said.

The fruit of the gasing is where an iron band made from tin or metal is fixed while balancing of the gasing is done. It also prevents the gasing from cracking easily when facing hard knocks.

"The shape and size of the gasing is produced based on the player's suitability but should not exceed 45.72 cm in diameter, 7.62 cm to 12.7 cm in height. This is in line with standards set during international competitions," he explained.

Zulkarin, who is able to produce a gasing within two hours (traditional method) said, he used the technique of cutting wood horizontally rather than cutting it across to ensure its durability when it is hurled.

"A balanced gasing is also given emphasis by adding tin at the bottom or 'patak', before it is resurfaced with a machine.

"Tin functions as the weight and serves as a balancer for gasing pangkah; the side of the gasing will be inserted with wire, wood particles, gum coating and will then be resurfaced," he said.

INCULCATE YOUTH INTEREST IN GASING

The evolution of new technologies has undoubtedly caused traditional games including gasing that was once popular among the community, to be slowly forgotten.

However for Zulkarin, who is a member of the Persekutuan Gasing Malaysia (PEGAMA), said he tried to inculcate the interest of the younger generation at Felda Kampung Tenang in the traditional game.

"Many call me 'Pak Cik Gasing', 'Zul Gasing Kampung Tenang'. I tried to pass it down to the new generation at the village so that they can acquire the skills and play gasing with me, " he said.

Zulkarin, who takes part in various competitions and exhibitions organised by PEGAMA said, he was also impressed with youths from other states like Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Selangor who are actively involved in the traditional sport.

"Actually, many younger people are active in the gasing game and often show their support by joining PEGAMA competitions nationwide.

"While most of today's youths are already hooked to online games, I am still hopeful that these treasures will be passed onto our future generation," he added.Translated by Salbiah Said

-- BERNAMA