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[Larry D.]

Well it took me years but it finally happened!  A rather lengthy quest (4+ years) has successfully concluded!
In 2012 I came across this video explaining a Polymer Gasing project which was underway in Malaysia.  The goal was to revitalize and perpetuate the local traditional form of play. 

In early August 2012 I wrote to Dr. Radin Umar Radin Sohadi, Chancellor of the Universiti Putra, Malaysia to see if I could get any further information from Dr. B.T. Hang Tuah who was heading up the Project.  At that time Dr. Tuah, and his team, were concerned with the “Intellectual Property” rights of the newly started project and apologized for not sharing any information with me. (Drats!)

Sometime later Pak Ngah Mohd Jais Razali spearheaded the production of the Polymer Gasing at the National level.  The project continued and eventually the Polymer Gasing were being produced.  Sometime later I made numerous attempts to contact Pak regarding the project - they all resulted in failure. (Foiled Again!)

BTW, Johnm posted lots of terrific gasing videos in the forum including the one I referenced above.  You may want to review this post if you haven’t seen it in a while:
http://www.ta0.com/forum/index.php/topic,2522.msg25802.html#msg25802

In 2015, while doing further research, I eventually came in contact with someone close to Pak.  (Hope renewed!)  From him I learned that Pak had suffered a stroke in 2014 and in December of 2014 his shop was flooded resulting in the loss and destruction of most of his gasing.  (His workshop is in very close proximity to the Pahang River.)  The loss included many of Pak’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation gasing in addition to the Polymer variety.  Pak no longer makes gasing, he’s focusing on his health, but he has since partnered with UKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) to continue production of polymer gasing.  Unfortunately this contact led no further.  (Sigh!)

This year I finally made contact with a gentleman in Malaysia named Abu.  After several months Abu has brought my Polymer gasing quest to a joyous conclusion by sending these to me.

Thank you Abu! 

[Larry D.]

A few more photos...

[lincolnrick]

Congratulations Larry! I'm happy your years long quest has finally been achieved. I'm sure you will enjoy these for many many hours.

[ta0]

That is what I call a Quest!  Congratulations on its success!

It looks like you got a wooden gasing in addition to the poly versions.
I hope the availability of these new gasings serve to popularize even more the game in Malaysia (and save a few trees).

[Jack]

the luck of this cookie is relentless!!!
congratulations on your victory sir!!!

[the Earl of Whirl]

You go, Larry!!!  Great work.  That is quite an amazing story!!!

[JNeff]

Finally Larry. They look great. You are relentless.

[jim in paris]

hello Larry;
what a story !bravo for your persistence! you are a true ambassador

and thanks for sharing all the red tape

how about a seat in the board   

jim

[Jeremy McCreary]

Strong work, Larry! How do they play compared to the traditional gasing?

[Larry D.]

how about a seat in the board   

Jim, I am flattered you would entertain such a thought, however, I must say - no thank you.

[jim in paris]

eh eh ! I know what you mean..

maybe next year

jim

[Larry D.]

Strong work, Larry! How do they play compared to the traditional gasing?

Jeremy, they play quite similar to the traditional wood variety, only safer.
These Malaysian gasing are made for Battle, aggressive and violent striking.
The blue poly gasing in the photo above weighs 448.9gr, just shy of a pound.  The wood gasing weighs 682.6gr, about 1 ½ pounds.  The poly gasing does not land (or strike) with the presence and authority of the wood gasing.
 
With information I gathered corresponding with the few contacts I made during this quest, the development of the Poly gasing was prompted for several reasons.  Namely to make gasing more affordable thereby nurturing the traditional form of play, to save natural resources and to make their style of play safer.

Looking at the evolution of the Form of Malaysian gasing may help in understanding the safety aspect.

First generation:

[Larry D.]

Second generation:

[Larry D.]

Third generation introduced increased use of metal to the gasing.  The green top on the left shows substantial metal around the tip:

[Larry D.]

This Third generation gasing shows where metal bearings were added on its side.  We can imagine the danger of the metal bearings popping off and hitting people during a match. This form of gasing was banned in Malaysia at some point.

Poly gasing do not crack and break into pieces during “battle” sending chipped pieces, or metal flying which could cause harm if they hit someone.

My apologies for the long winded answer.