Stamp your journey through Malaysia’s indie bookshops

Sunda Shelves, a bookstore in Petaling Jaya known for its focus on wildlife and nature, is among 15 bookstores participating in the Global Book Crawl from April 21–27. Photo: The Star/Shaari Chemat

This month, 15 independent bookstores in Malaysia are joining the Global Book Crawl, a week-long worldwide celebration of indie bookshops and community-driven reading culture.

From April 21-27, bookstores based in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, and Ipoh will be taking part in the global event, including Gerakbudaya, Tintabudi, Books For A Better World, Hubooks Malaysia, Pelita Dhihin, Sunda Shelves, Tokosue, Hikayat Fandom, Kawah Buku and Dany Che Comics.

This marks Malaysia’s first appearance in the Global Book Crawl, a movement that originated from a collective of independent bookstores across the globe.

'The Global Book Crawl is all about stories, creativity, and community – and we’re proud to carry that spirit into Malaysia,' says Ung. Photo: The Star/Azlina Abdullah

Today, it spans more than 30 cities across six continents, empowering local communities through literature and supporting small bookstores in a fun, inclusive way.

“We’re excited to not only showcase Malaysia’s thriving indie bookstore scene, but to also unite Malaysians through a shared love of reading,” says Adrian Ung, CEO of Books For A Better World.

“The Global Book Crawl is all about stories, creativity, and community – and we’re proud to carry that spirit into Malaysia,” he adds.

Customers browsing titles at Tintabudi bookshop in Kuala Lumpur, known for its curated selection of philosophy, literary fiction, politics and independent publications. Photo: The Star/Yap Chee Hong

How can readers take part in the initiative?

Simply visit any of the participating bookstores and purchase an official "Book Crawl Passport". Each bookstore will have a unique rubber stamp, which you’ll need to "chop" in your passport.

Those who get at least six different stamps from the bookstores will qualify for the lucky draw at the grand finale, which takes place on April 26 and 27 at Avenue K in Kuala Lumpur.

A view of Gerakbudaya bookshop in Petaling Jaya, known for its local titles and progressive literature. Photo: Gerakbudaya

On that final weekend, all participating bookstores will host their own booths, offering exclusive deals, curated collections, and interactive literary experiences, so be sure to come join in the fun.

Prizes for the lucky draw include the official Global Book Crawl tote bag, books, and other limited-edition merchandise.

In August and September 2020, the local pandemic-era initiative "Mer(d)eka" brought a spark of joy with an indie bookshop stamp hunt. The event rallied book lovers across five Klang Valley bookshops - Pelita Dhihin, Tintabudi, The Bibliophile, Gerakbudaya, Nur Innai Bookshop, and Lit Books.

More info here.