KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Ninety people have reported the True Fitness gym chain to the National Consumer Complaints Centre (NCCC) over its sudden closure.

According NCCC legal policy and senior manager Shabana Naseer, the complainants claimed a combined loss of RM348,911.

"The losses ranged from RM168 to RM19,031.80 which was paid by a couple,” she was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

"Some paid for three years, some for 17 months,” she said, adding that most complaints were received in Klang Valley.

She suggested that authorities regulate "lifetime” membership offers to prevent similar cases from reoccurring, and to provide legal recourse for consumers who take up such offers.

Consumers should also be wary of such deals, especially those with significant upfront payments, Shabana added.

The Singapore-based fitness chain announced the closure of its three Selangor gym and spa centres located in Jaya 33, Taipan Subang and Sunway Giza last week, purportedly due to market conditions.

An estimated 10,000 of its members were reported to have been affected by the closure.