Community spaces are important in building healthy and strong relationships among the people of different races, religions and backgrounds, who live together in an area. Such places also creates job opportunities and give people a purpose in life.
Hence, when a community centre is thriving after tons of blood, sweat, tears and funds have been poured into it, why would anyone want to take that away from the community?
Founder of Swimin12 Swim School and PJ Palms Sports Centre general manager, Yeap Eu Juan, took to his Facebook page to call for the general public to help save the PJ Palms Sports Centre, which has been used as a community swimming pool and sports centre for years.
He wrote, “PJ Palms Sports Centre might be gone forever. Running a town hall for the first time gives me a lot of fear. But, I know I have to host one because it’s just too important to keep quiet and it is time to let people know what’s going on and no longer be shy or afraid to ask for help, no longer afraid to stand up to unfairness.”
To understand PJ Palms Sports Centre’s importance to the community, let’s start from the beginning.
Prior to PJ Palms Sports Centre, the space was known as Syabas Club, which was left severely dilapidated.
“PJ Palms (Sepang Mekar Sdn Bhd) secured a renovation privatised contract from MBPJ after 3 years of negotiation to build a new public pool and sports centre for the community of Petaling Jaya and beyond in May of 2010. We were only given the keys to start mobilising for construction on August 31, 2010.”
“We opened the new pool to the public on March 1, 2011. The long-term lease was for 12 years with a guaranteed term to renew as long as there was no breach of contract.”
All in all, RM6 million (RM4.2 million to build the new pool and renovate the existing building, as well as another RM1.8 million invested into the buildings and surroundings) was sacrificed in order to create the vibrant community pool that it PJ Palms Sports Centre.
“The Director secured a bank loan using their own properties as collateral to fund this project. We have been very good paymasters, paying our rent to MBPJ without any default,” Yeap Eu Juan added.
With a guaranteed term in their tenancy agreement, it really shouldn’t be a problem to renew their contract, right?
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
“We started our renewal process with MBPJ back in 2019. PJ Palms has the first right of refusal and under clause 7, Guaranteed Term of the Tenancy Agreement, PJ Palms is the rightful person to continue the lease. As PJ Palms sent many letters and emails, there has been very little response as PJ Palms patiently waited for 5 years!”
“Even after the tenancy agreement expired, PJ Palms still paid rent for 2 years under the impression that, after investing so much money and holding the pool even while losing RM300,000 a year during the pandemic, MBPJ will be grateful that we have transformed this place, held onto it even when losing money and subsequently renew with us,” he said.
And then, they received bad news!
Unfortunately, last month, PJ Palms received a message from a friend about MBPJ tendering PJ Palms out for RM40,000 (which is almost triple of what PJ Palms needs to pay on top of the over RM100,000 in maintenance).
“PJ Palms was not informed by anyone from MBPJ. We asked MBPJ what was going on after receiving this news, but there was no reply from any MBPJ personnel on out correspondence. So, since PJ Palms was not informed of the tender, and we have the guaranteed clause, we were under the impression that this was only a process to bring PJ Palms to the table as a benchmark.”
“Shortly after the tender process, members from another big swim school, who are known for taking over big swimming pools, started hovering at our pool and spreading rumours that ‘their school will be at this pool very soon‘”, he explained.
This, in turn, caused their coaches to fear for their jobs, and their students and community to fear that they may lose their safe space.
“Many said if that swim school targets our pool, with their connections with untouchable influential people as patrons, we will never stand a chance.”
“Some asked what pot we are smoking to go against such giants, but I believe out work is so important that we need to try. Today, I’m asking for everyone’s help to save PJ Palms. We have done so much here for this pool, creating 200 over jobs from Swimin12 Swim School and all its incubated business alone, excluding all employees of other tenants in PJ Palms,” Yeap Eu Juan added.
All PJ Palms is asking for is that MBPJ communicate with them and fairly give them the fair right to renew their contract, especially after all they’ve invested into the space.
PJ Palms is also wiling to pay a higher rent and explore other reasonable requirements by MBPJ to upgrade the facilities and align themselves with the vision of Petaling Jaya.
Why is PJ Palms so important?
PJ Palms Sports Centre has held multiple initiatives over the years, including sponsored swimming lessons for the differently-abled, donation drives for various underprivileged communities, fundraisers for those who require aid, friendly swimming competitions for kids and the differently-abled and many, many more!
So, what can you do to help save PJ Palms?
They need assistance in spreading the word about their plight, so please do share Yeap Eu Juan’s post on social media. Don’t forget to #SavePJPalms and #SaveSwimin12.
You can also sign this petition!
For more information on this situation, as well as everything PJ Palms Sports Centre has done for the community, you can check out the SAVE PJ PALMS SPORTS CENTRE CAMPAIGN here.
What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: “Arrogant and cocky” – PJ Mayor Bashed for Shushing M’sians Who Gathered at MBPJ to Speak to Him
