KUALA LUMPUR – The group of gymnasium owners that protested at the Menara KBS in Putrajaya recently have been advised to voice their demands through proper channels.
National Sports and Fitness Association (NaSFA) president Datuk V. Radhakrisnan said the group representing the Malaysian Gymnasium Owners Association (PPGM) should work together with NaSFA to solve the problem.
“Our association works closely with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and prioritise its focus on bringing industry players together as one so that the voices of sports industry players are heard,” he said.
He said it will be even better if the group becomes an affiliate under NaSFA, which was previously known as National Sports & Fitness Venue Owner & Operators Association, so that requests or proposals can be more receptive with the ministry as NaSFA represents a major part of the fitness industry.
Radhakrisnan was responding to the protest made by a group of PPGM members who claimed that from the 6,000 Prihatin Sports Industry Grant (GPIS) promised by the government in July, only 10 per cent (600) had been approved, whereas only 1,700 operators had applied due to strict application conditions.
PPGM is demanding that the ministry opens new applications with more lenient conditions for the RM3,000 one-off GPIS, as well as to allow the gym operators, whose applications were rejected to submit appeals.
Commenting further, Radhakrisnan said the numbers as claimed by PPGM seemed doubtful and stressed that GPIS is not only meant for gym operators, but for the entire sports industry including sports centres, venue operators and academies.
“We have learned that the funds are still being distributed, the ministry also have their own formalities and they’re trying their best to disperse the funds, but the ministry needs to work at a faster pace because the centres also need the aid after facing numerous lockdowns, they’re still running on losses because the standard operating procedures (SOP) don’t allow for 100 per cent capacity.
“My biggest concern is what is going to happen when the moratorium ends on December 31. The actual scenario or the damage we are going to see in our industry and the impact will be seen in January when all these centres start paying their loans, and if the banks do not extend the moratorium, they do not have enough funds to pay.
“Whatever businesses they’re doing now, is only going to cover the current operational costs, they don’t have enough funds. So, I would like to request the government to seriously consider having another plan on how to support the industry once the moratorium ends,” he said. – Bernama, December 3, 2021
