Gymnasium operators and enthusiasts sported new profile pictures on Facebook earlier today, with the words “Congratulations Youth and Sports Ministry, gyms closed for two months”, running across their images.
The sarcastic dig was aimed at the ministry to serve as a reminder that gymnasiums have been shuttered for the past two months.
As the daily Covid-19 cases in Malaysia continued to soar despite the declaration of a state of emergency in January, and the Enhanced Movement Control Order enforced in several localities nationwide, there seemed to be no indication when gymnasiums would be allowed to reopen.
Malaysia recorded 7,097 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing the total number of cases to 799,790.
The Covid-19 pandemic had forced the government to initiate various forms of lockdowns since March last year. Gymnasium operators and sports industry players, however, had been struggling to make ends meet as they are often the first to close and last to open.
The new frame for the profile picture was created by gymnasium operator Azlan Supian.
“I’ve been in the gymnasium industry since 2008. It’s my life,” said Azlan, who owns Revo Gym in Danau Kota, Kuala Lumpur.
“The frame was created as today is exactly two months since gymnasiums have been forced to shut.”
Azlan did not mince his words as he took the ministry to task.
“What motivated me (to create the frame)? We are all struggling to make ends meet and the Youth and Sports Ministry has pretty much done nothing,” he said.
“On the surface, ministry officials say that they are concerned with our plight, claiming they can’t sleep at night thinking of our predicament, but based on their actions, their response has been weak.”
Azlan said out of the several initiatives laid out by the government, only the RM3,000 one-off payment to industry players would help – to a certain extent.
“We’ve carried out a survey and found that some 140 gymnasiums will close down by the end of this month (due to the lockdown). The RM3,000, sadly, will not change anything. Perhaps, it may only save five gymnasiums.
“We have no clue when we can operate again. That’s frustrating,” the 36-year-old added.
The ministry, on July 5, announced seven initiatives under the Youth and Sports Prihatin Initiative, which included the one-off aid of RM3,000, a Sports Industry Financing Scheme worth RM20 million, offering sports-related courses for free, and incentives for those renting the ministry’s facilities.
Azlan, who is also the secretary of the Gymnasium Operators Association of Malaysia, said the association had proposed five phases to rebuild the Malaysian gymnasium scene. The proposal was submitted and presented to the ministry’s Prihatin Secretariat.
“We stressed on the first two phases, significant financial assistance and the reopening of gymnasiums as soon as possible,” he said.
“Our short-term plan is for the government to allow us to operate when Phase 2 of the National Recovery Plan (NRP) kicks in.”
According to the NRP, gymnasium activities would only be allowed in Phase 3, when the average daily cases dropped to below 2,000, the public healthcare system was at a satisfactory level, the rate of bed usage in intensive care units dropped to an adequate level, and 40 per cent of the country’s population had received the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“I also sell equipment and supplements, and this hinges a lot on the gymnasiums being open.
“Working out at home isn’t as easy as some people think it is, especially for those who are used to carrying weights. Where are you going to find something as heavy as 100kg in your house?
“Also, gymnasiums are designed with protection in mind. At home, you don’t have the right flooring, the right equipment, or the right ventilation system. Unless you are rich and have some 1,000sq ft in your house dedicated to your workout sessions, it will not work.
“We will continue voicing out our concerns, and hopefully, see some significant changes,” he added.
Here are Twentytwo13’s news highlights today.
CIVIL SERVANT LOSES RM370K IN MACAU SCAM
A government officer lost RM370,000 after he was deceived by a man claiming to be from the Inland Revenue Board in another case of a Macau Scam.
The 33-year-old victim claimed he received a call on June 17, stating that his company had not paid taxes for many years.
The victim denied any links to the company. The call was then transferred to a man who claimed to be a police inspector from the Pahang police contingent headquarters.
After being informed that he was being investigated for money-laundering, the victim was told to pay RM120,000 before June 21 to close the investigation.
The victim was also pressured to make various other payments, forced to apply for personal loans from two banks, and provide his personal particulars, and details of his bank accounts.
The victim realised he had been conned after he was informed by a bank officer about several suspicious online transactions made from his account.
LOCAL COMPANY TO SUPPLY COVID-19 VACCINES TO PRIVATE SECTOR IN MALAYSIA
A Malaysian firm has partnered with a China company to supply Covid-19 vaccines to the private sector in the country by September or October.
Yong Tai Bhd said its agreement with Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd will see 10 million doses supplied annually with an additional option of 10 million doses, if required.
Yong Tai’s chief executive officer Boo Kuang Loon, said the group is conducting Phase 3 Clinical Trials in Malaysia and has made an application to the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency for approval to use the vaccine in Malaysia.
Boo was also quoted by China news agency Xinhua as saying that there were plans for the China company to set up a research and development hub and a production plant in Malaysia to ensure the country is equipped to deal with Covid-19 or other viruses in the future.
APPLICATION FOR SIX-MONTH MORATORIUM STARTS TODAY
Banks in Malaysia have started receiving applications from those who require a six-month moratorium.
Those with loans can visit the respective banks’ websites and find out more about the moratorium.
Bank Negara Malaysia reminded borrowers that opting for repayment assistance would increase the overall cost of borrowing, “as interest/profit will continue to accrue on deferred payments.”
KEDAH, TERENGGANU WILL NOT SEE ACTION IN AFC CUP 2021
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has cancelled all matches of the Asean zone AFC Cup 2021.
In a statement today, AFC said the cancellation was due to difficulty in finding a suitable host to stage the Group G, H, I matches and playoffs. Kedah was placed in Group H, while Terengganu FC was in Group I.
Singapore declined to host the competition, citing the pandemic.
AFC said matches in the other zones, however, would continue.
