Meja kopi itu kemik; walau bagaimanapun, ukurannya sesuai.

In Malay, demonstratives like ini (this) and itu (that) usually come after the noun.

• meja kopi itu = that coffee table
• buku ini = this book

So this is normal Malay word order, even though English puts that before the noun.

Malay often does not use a verb like is/are in simple descriptive sentences.

• Meja kopi itu kemik literally looks like: that coffee table dented
• But the natural English meaning is: That coffee table is dented

This is very common in Malay:

• Rumah itu besar = That house is big
• Dia sakit = He/She is sick

So the sentence is complete without a separate word for is.

Kemik means dented or having a dent.

It is used for something that has been pushed inward or damaged so that its surface is no longer smooth. In this sentence, it describes the condition of the coffee table.

So:

• meja itu kemik = the table is dented

Yes, meja kopi is the normal order for coffee table.

In Malay, when one noun modifies another, the main noun usually comes first, followed by the describing noun:

• meja kopi = coffee table
• kereta polis = police car
• bilik tidur = bedroom

So meja is the main noun (table), and kopi specifies the type.

Walau bagaimanapun means however, nevertheless, or even so.

Yes, it is somewhat formal or written-style Malay. It is very common in writing, speeches, essays, and more careful speech.

In everyday conversation, people might more often use:

• tapi = but
• tetapi = but (more standard than tapi)

So this sentence sounds fairly polished because of walau bagaimanapun.

Both can show contrast, but they are used a little differently.

• tetapi = but
• walau bagaimanapun = however / nevertheless

Walau bagaimanapun often sounds more like a transition between two ideas, especially when the second idea softens or contrasts with the first in a more formal way.

Compare:

• Meja kopi itu kemik, tetapi ukurannya sesuai.
• Meja kopi itu kemik; walau bagaimanapun, ukurannya sesuai.

Both are grammatical, but the second sounds more formal and a bit more like written English however.

Ukurannya comes from:

• ukuran = size, measurement
• -nya = its / the / that

So ukurannya means its size in this sentence.

Here, -nya refers back to meja kopi itu.

So:

• ukurannya sesuai = its size is suitable

In this sentence, -nya works like its:

• ukuran = size
• ukurannya = its size

But -nya is very flexible in Malay. It can mark different things depending on context, including:

• possession: bukunya = his/her/the book
• something already known from context
• a more definite or specific reference

In this sentence, the easiest way to understand it is simply as its.

Ukurannya is the more natural way to say its size.

• ukurannya sesuai = its size is suitable
• ukuran itu sesuai would more literally mean that size is suitable

So ukurannya links the size directly back to the coffee table, while ukuran itu points to a specific size as a separate thing.

Yes. Sesuai often means suitable, appropriate, or a good fit.

In many sentences, it can stand on its own if the context already makes clear suitable for what.

• Pakaian ini sesuai = These clothes are suitable
• Ukurannya sesuai = Its size is suitable

Sometimes Malay also uses:

• sesuai untuk ... = suitable for ...
• sesuai dengan ... = appropriate for / in accordance with ...

So this sentence is fine as it is.

The semicolon helps separate two closely related clauses:

• Meja kopi itu kemik
• walau bagaimanapun, ukurannya sesuai

This is similar to formal English punctuation before however.

You could also see other punctuation in Malay, especially in less formal writing, but the semicolon here is perfectly natural and matches the formal tone of walau bagaimanapun.

Yes, it sounds more like careful written Malay or formal spoken Malay than casual conversation.

The main reason is walau bagaimanapun, which is quite formal. In everyday speech, many speakers would say something like:

• Meja kopi itu kemik, tapi saiznya sesuai.
• Meja kopi itu kemik, tetapi ukurannya sesuai.

So the original sentence is grammatical and natural, but a bit polished in style.

Yes. Saiznya sesuai is also natural and may sound a bit more direct in everyday usage.

• ukurannya sesuai = its size is suitable
• saiznya sesuai = its size is suitable

Both are fine. Ukuran is a native Malay word, while saiz is a common borrowed word from English. The choice can depend on style and speaker preference.