On Thursday, The Star newspaper published a Star Metro front page article about the two mounted units, DBKL and Putrajaya, in Malaysia. Titled Commanding versatility, StarMetro reported on the role, history and maintenance of horse units established by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Putrajaya Corporation (PPj).
It said, “The authorities said such a unit was needed for conducting patrols in local parks, aside from serving as an attraction for tourists.”
The article backfired and the next day, a follow-up article was published, titled: Public say nay to horse unit.
The reaction to the first article was that ‘Community leaders, academics, non-governmental organisations and the general public have chimed in on the subject of mounted units in local authorities, commenting on their efficacy, moral aspects and the alternatives.’
The arguments for a cost-benefit analysis and the best methods of patrol were raised.
Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better co-director Irene Low called on the local authorities to stop the practice of euthanising (sic) the horses which had served the country. “These horses should be put up for adoption and be allowed to live out their lives with dignity, ” she said.
I’m not sure where those horses would retire to, but I do agree with the sentiment.
Gone are the days when DBKL and PDRM unit riders would compete at the top level in SEA World Cup Jumping events or even the South East Asian Games with riders such as Ram Talib, Omar Ghani and Ruzailina Zainal Abidin. Today, their riders are also-rans in novice classes. None of the mounted units play polo any longer.
If their contribution is patrol and parade, have the articles opened the proverbial can of worms for the 69 DBKL and 29 PPj horses?
Photos: The StarMetro
