Saya bukan tidak menghargai pujian, tetapi kritiknya perlu objektif.

Because bukan is negating the whole idea that follows, not just the verb.

• tidak menghargai = do not appreciate
• bukan tidak menghargai = it’s not that I don’t appreciate...

So bukan is used to reject an assumption or interpretation. The speaker is saying:

• I’m not saying I don’t appreciate praise
• What I’m saying is that the criticism needs to be objective

This is a very common Indonesian pattern when softening or correcting what someone might think.

Yes, it is basically a double negative, and it works a lot like English expressions such as:

• It’s not that I don’t appreciate praise
• I do appreciate praise, but...

The structure adds nuance. It sounds more careful and defensive than simply saying:

• Saya menghargai pujian, tetapi... = I appreciate praise, but...

With bukan tidak, the speaker suggests that someone may have accused them of being ungrateful or dismissive, and they are pushing back against that idea.

No preposition is needed. Menghargai is a transitive verb, so it takes a direct object.

• menghargai pujian = to appreciate praise
• menghargai bantuan = to appreciate help
• menghargai usaha seseorang = to appreciate someone’s effort

This is similar to English appreciate something, not appreciate for something.

Pujian means praise.

It comes from the root puji, which is related to praising. The suffix -an often turns a root into a noun.

• puji = praise / commend
• pujian = praise, compliment, words of praise

So in this sentence:

• menghargai pujian = to appreciate praise / compliments

Not necessarily. In Indonesian, -nya can mean several things depending on context. Here, kritiknya most naturally means:

• the criticism
• the criticism being discussed
• sometimes his/her criticism or their criticism, if context makes that clear

So kritiknya perlu objektif can be understood as:

• the criticism needs to be objective

In many cases, -nya is not strongly personal like English his/her. It often just points to something already known in the conversation.

Because objektif is being used as an adjective, and Indonesian does not need extra marking there.

• kritiknya = the criticism
• perlu = needs to / needs to be
• objektif = objective

So the structure is simply:

• subject + perlu + adjective

Examples:

• Rencananya perlu jelas = The plan needs to be clear
• Penilaiannya perlu adil = The assessment needs to be fair

There is no need for -nya on objektif.

Perlu means need(s) to or needs to be, and it is usually softer than harus.

• perlu objektif = needs to be objective
• harus objektif = must be objective

So in this sentence, perlu sounds more measured and reasonable. It suggests a requirement, but not as forcefully as harus.

All three can work, but they differ a little in style.

• tetapi = but, fairly neutral and standard
• tapi = shorter, more casual spoken form
• namun = more formal or literary, often however

So tetapi fits well in a careful, standard sentence like this one.

You could also say:

• Saya bukan tidak menghargai pujian, tapi kritiknya perlu objektif.

That sounds slightly more conversational.

Yes. Objektif is a standard Indonesian adjective meaning objective.

Indonesian has many words borrowed or adapted from Dutch, Arabic, Sanskrit, English, and other languages, so it is normal for some words to look familiar to English speakers.

Examples:

• objektif = objective
• subjektif = subjective
• positif = positive
• negatif = negative

The subject of the second clause is kritiknya.

So the sentence divides like this:

• Saya bukan tidak menghargai pujian = first clause
• tetapi kritiknya perlu objektif = second clause

In the second clause:

• kritiknya = subject
• perlu = predicate expressing necessity
• objektif = complement/adjective

So literally it is something like:

• the criticism needs to be objective

Yes, it is natural, especially in a thoughtful or slightly formal context.

A native speaker might also say:

• Saya bukannya tidak menghargai pujian, tapi kritik itu harus objektif.
• Bukan berarti saya tidak menghargai pujian, tetapi kritik harus objektif.

These alternatives change the tone a little:

• bukannya tidak often sounds a bit more conversational
• bukan berarti means that doesn’t mean that...
• kritik itu is a little more explicit than kritiknya

But your original sentence is perfectly good Indonesian.

It sounds careful, defensive, and reasonable.

The speaker is not rejecting praise. Instead, they are saying:

• I do appreciate praise
• but criticism should still be fair/objective

So the sentence pushes back against bad criticism without sounding overly emotional. It has a balanced tone, which is why the double-negative structure works well here.