(From left) Majidah, Mohd Fauzi, Suraya and Shahnaz with The Best Landscape Initiative for Petrol Station prize awarded by Shah Alam City Council. — Photos: KK SHAM/The Star
PETROL station retailer Suraya Mohd Saruwan is thrilled that her hobby turned community hub has been rewarded at Shah Alam Landscape Awards 2025 (ALSA 2025).
“There’s a seating area inside my petrol station, where customers can have a drink, snack or even rest,” she said of her outlet in Setia Alam, Selangor.
“When the station reopened in 2022 following renovation work, I bought wooden furniture for the seating area and decorated it with a few potted plants.”
She later roped in a creative neighbour to beautify the space with even more greenery.
Their joint effort led to an unexpected business when a few customers thought the plants were for sale.
“This venture is based on our shared passion for gardening, and not profit.
“The seating area expanded outdoors has since become a hub for people to hang out, wait for their car to be washed or even do their work.
(Above and below) Greenery in the indoor and outdoor decor at the petrol station in Setia Alam.
“My staff have also taken the initiative to care for the plants and give suggestions on what I should try next,” she said when met at the event which was held at MBSA Convention Centre in Shah Alam.
Suraya’s business Primazone Enterprise, licensed operator of the Shell petrol station in Section U13, won The Best Landscape Initiative for Petrol Station at ALSA 2025 organised by Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).
She plans to share the RM1,500 cash prize with her nearly 20 employees and neighbour as a reward for their hard work.
ALSA is a biennial competition recognising Shah Alam communities for their landscaping efforts.
This year’s competition featured two main categories, for best landscaping at individual residences and petrol stations.
The residential category was subdivided into bungalows, semi-detached, terrace and traditional houses.
The champions in the residence category were Che Latipah Che Hassan (bungalow), Datuk Wan Azlan Shah Eddie Shah Edward (semi-detached house), Mohd Nawiah Kassim (terrace house) and Siti Naquiah Abdullah (traditional house).
The competition offered cash prizes to the top three places and five consolation winners in each category, totalling RM23,500.
“The awards received encouraging response this year, with a total of 73 entries for the residential category and nine for petrol stations,” Shah Alam mayor Datuk Mohd Fauzi Mohd Yatim said in his speech.
“In addition to recognising the effort and creativity of homeowners and business operators in landscaping and beautification, the award also instils a sense of pride and responsibility in cleanliness and the environment,” he said.
Besides providing oxygen and lowering ambient temperature, green landscapes have a positive effect on mood and productivity, he added.
Present at the event were deputy mayor Safriah Md Adzhar, MBSA Landscape Department director Majidah Md Ali and Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia vice-president Shahnaz Khan Dell Akbar Khan.
