SHAH ALAM: Three-year-old 'Sun' became an unlikely star at the Fire and Rescue Department's booth at Taman Tasik Shah Alam where the National Landscape Day (HLN) exhibition is taking place.
Wrapped around its handler Muhd Yazid Taqiuddin's body, the yellow snake quickly gathered the attention of both children and adults who took pictures and gained insight into the species.
Fireman Yazid, 23, from the Section 15 Fire and Rescue Station also took the opportunity to interact with the public, saying that snakes incidents are one of the many emergency calls that the department receives daily.
"When you encounter a snake, try to remain calm and if possible, keep it within your view so it does not escape before help arrives.
"We're trained to handle snakes, among other wild animals, through the necessary courses," he said.
Meanwhile, visitor Norhidayu Ab Rahim, 40, from Klang, said she looked forward to see the variety of garden plants available at the booths here.
"I especially love bonsai and orchid; and I hope to find some interesting ones here.
"Events like this is also a chance for me to bring my six-year-old daughter for a walk while appreciating landscape," she said.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming earlier said the ministry is looking into tapping a new market for landscape product exports.
"We will have trade missions, including to Japan and Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates).
"Malaysia recorded an export value for landscape products at RM522 million last year and we are aiming for RM1 billion in 2025 for exports of products such as garden plants, fertiliser and garden furnitures," Nga told reporters after launching the Green Urban Forum's closing ceremony at PKNS headquarters nearby.
On the home front, he said, real estate landscape is one of the selling points in attracting potential property owners as people nowadays "buy a lifestyle not just a mere building."
National Landscape Day, held until June 2 at the lake garden here, is aimed at raising landscape awareness, especially among the younger generation, as well as to educate the public on the important role it plays in sustainable living.
Nga said the event, which was launched by Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, on Saturday, also saw the creation of Laman Diraja at the lake garden, which adopts the English garden style with Malay architecture.
Themed 'Industri Landskap Pemacu Pembangunan Madani' (Landscape Industry Driving Madani Development), HLN reflects the continuity of efforts carried out by the ministry to empower the industry in realising landscape as a new source of income for the country, he said.
Events such as HLN would further help promote services and products offered by players.
Among the activities are live cooking demonstration, mural drawing, flower arrangement competition and industry dialogue.
The ministry, through the department, would continue to enhance the landscape industry through strengthening cooperation to improve the roles of landscape industry players.