Surin (left) and Ong, the co-founders of Sunda Shelves, are on a mission to cultivate a thriving nature-loving community centred around their bookshop. Photo: Bernama
The Sunda Shelves, founded by conservationist Surin Suksuwan and biodiversity consultant Dylan Jefri Ong in June 2023, describes itself as a “friendly neighbourhood bookshop” that specialises in books relating to the environment, nature, natural history, culture and travelling in South-East Asia.
Located in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, the bookshop has an apt nature-themed name, inspired by the Sunda Shelf, a shallow underwater continental area spanning parts of the South China Sea, Java Sea, and Andaman Sea.
It’s a crucial hotspot for global biodiversity, teeming with rare and unusual marine species.
At the Sunda Shelves bookstore, eco-enthusiasts and general masses alike will find similar diversity on the racks, with a range of new and pre-loved titles, and a cupboard of rare "Malaysiana" books.
Driven by a shared passion for the environment and a love for literature, the owners of Sunda Shelves aim to create a welcoming space where readers connect with nature and each other, sparking conversations and inspiring actions to celebrate and protect the planet. Photo: Bernama
It also has a small cafe, making it a place to spend a few hours reading and sipping a cup of coffee. The bookstore is managed by Surin’s wife Jennifer Neoh Tan, while his sister Sumalee Suksuwan runs the cafe.
A shared passion
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.
“Coincidentally, we found out both of us had (harboured) the same idea of opening a nature-themed bookshop for many years,” said Surin.
One of the main reasons that led them to establish Sunda Shelves was the difficulty in finding books on natural history in Malaysia.
The shop offers a variety of nature-themed postcards, prints, bags and paraphernalia. Photo: Bernama
“There used to be a bookshop at the Malaysian Nature Society’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur but it closed down many years ago,” said Ong.
“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 knew that Sunda Shelves had a unique selling proposition,” he added.
Turning pages, planting roots
The Sunda Shelves serves as a platform for the duo 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,” said Ong.
Sunda Shelves, a nature-based bookshop in Petaling Jaya, is dedicated to building community and fostering environmental awareness through its carefully curated selection of books and eco-friendly initiatives. Photo: Bernama
The bookshop offers a mix of new books obtained 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 small section featuring lighter reads, including fiction books for children and adults.
Surin said almost 90% of the books available at their bookstore are in English.
Since he and Ong have been involved in nature conservation for many years, they have a good sense of which books are factually correct and reliable.
“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,” said Ong.
Tucked away on a first-floor shoplot, Sunda Shelves might be hidden, but it offers a wealth of nature book discoveries. Photo: Bernama
The bookstore also carries a selection of merchandise – from mugs, bags and greeting cards adorned with nature-themed artworks by Penang-based artist 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.
'What the neighbourhood needs'
Apart from its “Sunda Talks” monthly series, a community notice board has also been set up.
One of the events listed on it recently was a talk on “Kulim Oil”, also known as jungle garlic, by the entrepreneurs marketing the product.
“We have many NGOs using our place as a venue for their meetings. We also have families coming in to spend time here, reading books and having a meal at our cafe,” said Ong.
The bookshop stocks a broad range of nature books for both adults and children. Photo: Bernama
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 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," he said.
“But discussions like these can’t stop after an event, forum or any activity; they must be continuous." – Bernama
