Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Waktu kami kurang pagi ini, biar rapat tetap dimulai tepat waktu. - We have too little time this morning; let the meeting still start on time.

Here biar means “so that / in order that.” It introduces a purpose clause: we’re short on time so that the meeting still starts on time. It’s informal-neutral in speech. In more formal contexts, use agar or supaya.

Informal: … biar rapat tetap dimulai tepat waktu.
Formal: … agar/supaya rapat tetap dimulai tepat waktu.

Note: biar can also mean “let/allow” (e.g., Biar saya yang mulai = “Let me start”) and, in colloquial use, can function like “even though” (see below).

Is the sentence complete? Why is there just a comma before biar?

Yes, this is a natural spoken/written style in Indonesian. The first clause states a situation (Waktu kami kurang pagi ini), and the biar-clause states the purpose/result we’re aiming for. Indonesian commonly links such clauses with a comma, especially in an informal register. In very careful writing you could use a semicolon or make it two sentences.

Why kami and not kita?

kami = we/us (excluding the listener).
kita = we/us (including the listener). Use kami if you mean “our (the speaker’s group) time,” not including the person you’re talking to. If you’re addressing the team that is included, Waktu kita kurang… would be appropriate.

Is Waktu kami kurang natural? Could I say it another way?

Very natural. Alternatives with nuance:

Kami kekurangan waktu = We are short of time (slightly more formal).
Kami tidak punya cukup waktu = We don’t have enough time (explicit).
Kami kehabisan waktu = We’ve run out of time (none left).
Less preferred: Waktu kami sedikit is understandable, but learners usually sound more natural with the options above.

What’s the difference between kurang and “not enough” forms like tidak cukup?

X kurang = “X is insufficient / there isn’t enough X.” Example: Waktu kami kurang.
tidak cukup pairs with a quantity/measure: Kami tidak punya cukup waktu (“We don’t have enough time”). Both are correct; kurang is very idiomatic with time, money, etc.

Why is pagi ini at the end? Can it go elsewhere?

Time expressions are flexible:

Pagi ini, waktu kami kurang.
Waktu kami kurang pagi ini. (your sentence)
Waktu kami pagi ini kurang. (less common) Placing pagi ini first puts more emphasis on “this morning” as the topic.

Why passive dimulai? Could I use mulai or memulai instead?

dimulai (passive): “is started/begun.” Focus on the meeting as the thing being started. Common in announcements: Rapat dimulai pukul 9.
mulai (intransitive): Rapat mulai pukul 9 is also fine and a bit simpler.
memulai (active): needs an agent. Kami tetap memulai rapat tepat waktu. Your sentence highlights the meeting itself and omits the agent, so the passive fits well.

What does tetap add? How is it different from masih?

tetap = “remain/keep (unchanged), in spite of something.” It conveys “nevertheless.” Here: despite the time crunch, the meeting will still start on time.
masih = “still (continuing from before).” It doesn’t carry the “despite X” contrast. Compare:
Biar waktunya mepet, rapat tetap dimulai tepat waktu. (contrast)
Rapat masih dimulai tepat waktu. (odd here; suggests it continues to start on time as before, without highlighting the obstacle)

Can I say rapat tetap mulai tepat waktu instead of tetap dimulai?

Yes: Rapat tetap mulai tepat waktu is acceptable and natural, with mulai as an intransitive verb. The passive dimulai is a bit more formal/announcement-like.

Is tepat waktu a fixed expression? Any alternatives?

Yes, tepat waktu means “on time” and is very common. Alternatives:

tepat jam … (exactly at … o’clock)
pas waktu (colloquial)
tepat pada waktunya (formal/literary, rarer in everyday speech)

Should I add akan to mark the future: rapat tetap akan dimulai tepat waktu?

You can. akan emphasizes future intention/plan. Without akan, Indonesian is still clear from context/time words:

With akan: slightly more formal or plan-oriented.
Without akan: neutral and idiomatic.

Does biar ever mean “even though”? Would that change this sentence?

Colloquially, yes: Biar hujan, kita berangkat = “Even though it’s raining, we’ll go.” In your sentence, biar is purposive (“so that”). Context disambiguates. If you want the unambiguous “even though,” use walaupun/meskipun; for “so that,” use agar/supaya in formal contexts.

Do I need a preposition like pada in pagi ini?

No. pagi ini is the standard, natural way to say “this morning.” pada pagi ini is grammatical but sounds formal/ceremonial; you’d see it in speeches or formal writing.

How would I make this sound more formal for an email?

For example: Karena waktu kami terbatas pagi ini, mohon presentasi dipersingkat agar rapat tetap dimulai tepat waktu.

terbatas = limited (more formal than kurang here)
mohon … dipersingkat = please shorten (polite passive)
agar = formal equivalent of biar

What’s the difference between rapat and pertemuan?

Both can mean “meeting,” but:

rapat = a formal/structured meeting (work, committee).
pertemuan = any meeting/encounter; can be formal or informal, broader in meaning. In office contexts, rapat is the usual word.