GYM licence fees in Putrajaya and Labuan are relatively low, which is in line with growing public health needs, according to the Federal Territories Department (FT Department).
In a statement dated March 5, the department said the existing licence fee for gyms in Putrajaya is RM5 per sqm, while in Labuan it is RM25 per year regardless of the size of the premises, based on their respective business by-laws.
The statement comes following an announcement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh stating that the gym licence fees in Kuala Lumpur had been reduced by 80%, from RM50 per sqm to RM10 per sqm starting January this year.
She also urged gym operators to pass on the savings from the reduced licence fees to customers through membership discounts and special rates for senior citizens.
Yeoh added that the ministry would next study the gym licence fee in Putrajaya and Labuan.
The FT Department noted that cases of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure continued to show worrying trends, particularly in urban areas where residents often face sedentary lifestyles and limited time to exercise regularly.
It said the situation reflected the heavier concentration of public health challenges in metropolitan and federal administrative areas, highlighting the need for more responsive and targeted urban policy approaches.
The move, it added, supported the Healthy City agenda by promoting a more active, inclusive and community-friendly urban environment.
"The Madani Government believes that targeted incentives, combined with strategic collaboration with industry players, can improve overall public health and reduce the long-term burden of non-communicable diseases," the statement read.
