Sunda Shelves, More Than Just A Neighbourhood Bookstore

A shop with a name like Sunda Shelves is bound to attract the attention of passers-by.

The shop in question is a bookstore cum cafe located in Damansara Kim here, the inspiration for its name drawn from the Sunda Shelf, a shallow continental area submerged in a portion of the South China Sea, Java Sea and Andaman Sea and known to be a vital contributor to global biodiversity because it is home to many rare and unusual marine species.

'Sunda Shelves' signboard made by recycled items

Indeed, Sunda Shelves is an apt name for a bookshop rooted in nature. Founded by conservationist Surin Suksuwan and biodiversity consultant Dylan Jefri Ong and opened in June 2023, Sunda Shelves bills itself as a “friendly neighbourhood bookshop” that specialises in books relating to the environment, nature, natural history, culture and travelling in Southeast Asia. 

And, according to the owners, Sunda Shelves is currently the only nature-themed bookstore in Peninsular Malaysia.

HOW SUNDA SHELVES CAME ABOUT

Bibliophiles and browsers alike will find a commendable selection of both new and pre-loved titles, and even rare books, at the bookstore, which also has a café serving beverages and snacks, making it a perfect place to spend a few blissful hours reading and sipping a cup of coffee.

The café is managed by Surin’s sister Sumalee Suksuwan while the bookstore is managed by his wife Jennifer Neoh Tan.

On how the idea for the bookshop emerged, Surin, who is also a sustainability consultant, said he and Ong first met when they were involved in the Perlis state park project in 2000.

Surin Sukuwan (left) and Dylan Jefri Ong (right)

“Very coincidentally, we found out both of us had (harboured) the same idea of opening a nature-themed bookshop for many years,” Surin said. And the rest, as they say, is history.

One of the reasons that led them to establish Sunda Shelves was the difficulty in finding books on natural history in Malaysia.

Said Ong: “There used to be a bookshop at the Malaysian Nature Society’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur but it closed down many years ago. 

“Our inspiration to set up Sunda Shelves was actually from a bookshop named 'The Borneo Shop' in Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) which also specialises in natural history. 

“Given that there is no other bookshop in Peninsular Malaysia specialising in natural history, we already know that Sunda Shelves has a unique selling proposition.”

Ong also said Sunda Shelves serves as a platform for him and Surin to share their passion for and knowledge of natural history and biodiversity. And by doing so, they hope to inspire and motivate others to join in on efforts to protect and conserve the nation’s flora and fauna.

“Many people are still not aware of the amazing biodiversity that we have in our country and the region. Hopefully, through the books we have at Sunda Shelves and the events that we organise, we would be able to raise more awareness,” he said. 

MERCHANDISE

The bookshop offers a mix of new books bought from various publishers and distributors and pre-loved titles donated by the public and sourced from flea markets. 

The books are categorised under Plants, Animals, Biodiversity and Evolution, Environmental Issues, Travel and ‘Malaysiana’. There is also a section featuring lighter reads like fiction books for children and adults.  

Surin said almost 90 percent of the books available at their bookstore are in English. Since he and Ong have been involved in biodiversity conservation for many years, they have a good sense of which books are factually correct and reliable. 

Besides books, 'Sunda Shelves also sells merchandise

“We do try to curate the quality, quantity and theme of the books that we want to put on the shelves, but at the end of the day the readers will have to decide for themselves which books appeal most to them,” Ong said.

The bookstore also retails a selection of merchandise – from mugs, bags and greeting cards adorned with nature-themed artworks by Penang-based Choo Beng Teong to turtle-motif batik merchandise produced by the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia.

Sunda Shelves also offers a space for like-minded people to meet and exchange ideas by conducting events and activities that stimulate discussions on nature and conservation.

A community notice board has also been set up, highlighting upcoming activities and events. One of the events listed there is a talk on ‘Kulim Oil’, also known as jungle garlic, by the entrepreneurs marketing the product.

“We have many NGOs (non-governmental organisations) using our place as a venue for their meetings. We also have families coming in to spend time here, reading books and having a delicious meal at our café,” Ong added.

RISE OF E-BOOKS, ONLINE STORES 

Meanwhile, Surin and Ong also acknowledged the challenges faced by brick-and-mortar bookstores considering that people these days prefer to buy books through online platforms or read e-books.   

Ong, however, strongly believes that a bookstore is “just what the neighbourhood needs”.

“We created this for the community that needs a space offering books on nature as well as natural history-themed reading materials. Our bookshop is also a platform for conservationists and nature lovers like us to gather and have dialogues and discussions.

“But discussions like these can’t stop after an event, forum or any activity; they must be continuous,” he said, adding since Malaysia is among the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, “we should promote it and get more people to discover the beauty of our country”.

The interior design of 'Sunda Shelves'

Surin agreed, saying Sunda Shelves can be a good starting point for the community, regardless of age and background, to appreciate nature.

Edited by Rema Nambiar