KUALA LUMPUR: After 10 years in operation, Lembah Kiara Park’s famous free aerobic and Zumba classes may soon be a thing of the past.
The programme’s local representative Chong Yoke Mei, 53, said Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) recently issued a notice calling for the sessions to be discontinued by the end of the year.
“There is a possibility that the classes here will not continue. DBKL said this park belongs to the National Landscape Department.
“However, the Landscape Department said we can utilise this location for the programme,” she told the New Straits Times after the third edition of Aerobicthon Competition at Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) here this morning.
Chong said the class, which is made up of over 200 students, were devastated by the news.
Chong added that she received the notice by DBKL last month and that she has sought the assistance of the relevant authorities to file an appeal.
She also said she has raised the matter with Segambut Member of Parliament Hannah Yeoh and the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Residents Association.
Chong said although Yeoh’s office gave her an assurance that the programme could continue, a DBKL representative told her otherwise.
According to Chong, in order for the programme to continue, DBKL wanted to offer tenders for the class instructor's position.
However, Chong said she wanted the classes to continue at the same park and be taught by long-time dancing coach Aida Suriyaliez Abdul Jazam.
She added that the classes here were the most popular among in the Klang Valley.
Other areas include Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Taman Tasik Permaisuri, Taman Keramat, Taman Tasik Manjalara, Taman Rekreasi Bukit Jalil and Taman Rekreasi Pudu Ulu.
“This class is free of charge, anyone can join us. Everyone enjoys themselves here.
“Our members come from all walks of life... the Malays, Chinese and Indians are here. They come from Kepong, Petaling Jaya and some as far as Shah Alam and Ampang.
“We are like a family already here. We've been together every Sunday for more than 10 years.
“Everyone hopes this programme will continue,” she said.
More than a 100 individuals participated in the Aerobicthon Competition this morning, which was last held in 2015 and 2016.
Among them were mother-daughter duo Grace Tan, 52, and Jasmine Ong, 21, who won the grand prize in the adult category.
They, too, expressed sadness over the possible discontinuation of the weekly Sunday morning sessions.
“We heard that this may be the last Aerobicthon Competition. It’s so sad because it has become a routine for us. My aunt is also a regular and she comes all the way from Ampang," said Ong.
General clerk Bairah Indin from Sungai Penchala said she has never missed a session since she first started working out with her two best friends.
“This is how I keep fit and it’s even more exciting when we have programmes like this.
“Some people might feel lazy to exercise but we look forward to these classes. I am sick today but after this morning’s session, sweating it out and moving about I feel pumped and fresh,” she said.
The only male participant Calvin Gan, 53, said he and his wife were regular participants of the Sunday aerobic sessions.
“It really doesn’t matter if you are working out with men or women. There is no difference so long as you give your all and the instructors support you,” he said.
In 2015, then DBKL's Department of Culture, Arts and Sports director Idzawi Raja Ismail said Lembah Kiara Park was owned by the National Landscape Department.
He had said nonetheless, DBKL had no issues continuing the classes and had even considered increasing the number of classes to two times a week.