Hashing: Born in Malaysia

A 1938 picture of the original Hash House in downtown Kuala Lumpur. (Left) An AGM photo of the Hash House Harriers from 1959.

Malaysia has the distinction of founding one recreational and social sporting activity that has now spread to all corners of the world.

Yes, the cradle of hashing is right here in Kuala Lumpur. It was late 1938, in pre-war Malaya, when a bunch of British expatriates grouped together for a “hare and hounds” run, a traditional paperchase game popular in their home country. Granted, they had other, more liquid, reasons apart from mere exercise, but from such humble beginnings grew the sport of hashing.