This shrew is endemic to the international island of Borneo, particularly in northern Sarawak and northeastern Sabah states of Malaysia.

[1] It may be more widespread and occur in the nation of Brunei, and in northern Kalimantan province of Indonesia.

[1] Its natural habitat is subtropical and tropical dry forests.

[1] Older taxonomies have included it in the Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus), but they are distinctly different species.

It is not known, from botanical collecting, to have any protected populations within nature reserves or parks of the three countries.