One of Malaysia’s most prominent fitness chains, True Fitness, went bust over the weekend, leaving members and employees stranded behind locked shop fronts early Saturday. The day before, the company had announced that they were ceasing their Thai operations.
Members were left in the lurch, many of whom had bought “lifetime” membership packages to the tune of RM16,400, nearly US$3,900. Nothing like making a wager with your local gym that to your last breath, you intend to be sweating it out on their elliptical machine, and using their showers.
At the Jaya33 location, an older woman told us that she had been a member since 2006, but had noticed that upkeep had been off of late. Last week, she and other gym-goers were told that all of the air conditioning units were not working. Staff assured them that all would be repaired. Another man, clearly upset, said that just yesterday he was convinced to sign up for a so-called “lifetime” membership.
Members were not the only ones in the dark, as True Fitness supervisor, management and instructors were equally dumbfounded by the closure. Yoga masters, specially brought in to teach from India, were promptly given plane tickets to return home by this Thursday. Some were simply told to cancel their morning appointments, and arrived at work to locked doors, with their belongings still inside.
Former employees have now lodged reports with the Labour Department, claiming that the company owed them over RM66,000 in commissions before closing down. Former manager Sharul Hamiri Shahruddin says that “we have gotten our salaries for the last month. We just want to fight for our commissions and also a compensation for being retrenched without notice.” Good luck with that buddy.
In total, 34 employees have lodged complaints.
True Fitness has found itself in even more hot water with another Malaysian gym chain, CHi Fitness, after they falsely told their members via Facebook that their memberships would be redeemed at the other gym’s locations.
“In light of the recent True Fitness closure, we would like to clarify that we have no contract or arrangement to honor or takeover any commitment from True Fitness,” CHi wrote on on their Facebook page on Monday. They did say that there were 20,000 one-month passes available, and former True Fitness punters were eligible to participate in that. After that, members will have to fork over whatever the monthly costs and sign up fees are to use the facilities.
Word of warning: lifetime usage sounds like a great idea, but ask yourself if you really plan on being the 85-year old taking advantage of unlimited Zumba classes.
