BRIDGING NARRATIVES

Indie bookstore Riwayat breathes new life into Malaysia's reading culture

- STUART DANKER

IN THE PULSATING HEART of Kuala Lumpur's central business district, among the skyscrapers and cultural buildings, lies a quiet sanctuary of literature - an independent bookstore named Riwayat.

The man behind this project, Engku Roestam Alias, brings to life a testament to his lifelong relationship with books, intertwining personal passion and entrepreneurship in an ode to his late father, Tengku Alias Taib, a revered local poet.

Roestam's journey to the world of books began in the backroom of his childhood home, converted into a library by his father. Here, he was surrounded by 7ft tall bookshelves, brimming with young adult titles, Dewan Bahasa books, and children's magazines. There were also Enid Blyton's timeless series, as well as a never-ending supply of local newspapers.

And as a teacher who was passionate about literature, Roestam's father would buy books almost every weekend, while also getting new reading material from fellow authors who'd meet up at networking and reading events.

Such experiences instilled in Roestam a love for books that transcended the pages themselves. Yet his academic pursuit was initially in the realm of science, later transitioning to technical studies and finally entering the manufacturing supply chain as a career.

It was only after his father's passing that his trajectory shifted towards publishing. Recognising the demand for his father's works, Roestam proposed to his family to reprint these books. This marked the beginning of Roestam's foray into the book business, which eventually flourished.