Late last month on January 27, 2023, the Ulu Klang Recreation Club (UKRC) locked out a group of senior citizens from a public basketball court where they regularly gathered to practise their morning Qigong exercises.
This came just 14 days after UKRC held a press conference thanking Selangor MB Amirudin Shari for surrendering back the UKRC Field and surrounding areas, which includes the basketball court.
The group had been using the venue for the past 16 years without any problems when the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) was managing the public land. Participation is free for all and the activity is run by a group of Kuala Ampang residents.
Payment is required
Five days later, the club appeared to relent and informed the group that they could continue using the basketball court.
However, when they ended their exercises that morning, UKRC secretary Tony Leong handed the group a letter stating that the club will be charging them money to use the premises. The amount that will be charged was not stated.
The group must also write back to the club secretary within seven days of receiving the letter with the requested information below:
- full details of the exercise programme including the exact number of participants involved
- details of each participant’s name, identity card number, residential address and contact number
- copy of identity card of each participant
- name of person in charge of the programme
On the same day, the group of senior citizens also staged a protest against the UKRC for their “unbecoming and disrespectful treatment”
Discriminating against senior citizens?
Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, a Kuala Ampang resident called into question the role of UKRC as a sports and recreation club.
“Instead of welcoming and helping the group to promote participation in the morning exercises, UKRC chose to first lock the group out and then issue a seven day demand letter wanting information that is akin to those of high security screening before having a private audience with the PM!”
They also questioned why the same information is not asked of other participants who rent out the Community Hall for events like weddings.
“Such discrimination makes the senior citizens feel like second class citizens.”
Is privatisation under way?
Consequently, they also posed a few more questions for UKRC regarding their demand letter.
- What’s the club’s intention in asking for full details of the exercise programme when the club has been aware of the programme for years?
- Is the club planning to âprivatiseâ the land by allowing access to paid members only?
- Were the Kuala Ampang residents’ rights to access the land safeguarded when the Selangor MB surrendered it to UKRC?
Do you think the UKRC has the right to charge the senior citizens?
