KUALA LUMPUR: Private gym owners and operators are appealing to the government to revise the standard operating procedure to enable them to resume operations.

       According to them, the closure of the gyms and fitness centres during the movement control order, which is now coming close to nine months, has left many business owners with no choice but to permanently close their shutters.

       In a joint statement, S. Jayagobi and Kevin Lius Silvaraju, who currently run multiple Anytime Fitness franchise outlets throughout the city centre, said gym operators still had to pay salaries, utilities and rental, despite not having any revenue.

       “We are appealing to the government to allow us to reopen as soon as possible since the number of fully vaccinated adults in the Klang Valley has reached 86.9% as of Thursday,” Jayagobi said.

       “On behalf of private gym owners and operators nationwide, we applaud the government’s tireless efforts to safeguard the health of the population from the disease.”

       He said entry to gyms and fitness centres should be strictly for fully vaccinated individuals who must produce their digital vaccination certificate, in addition to limiting the number of patrons in the premises and observing physical distancing.

       He aded that gym members must bring their own towels as part of hygiene measures. — Bernama