Pembalut itu menutup kasa.

The sentence uses the very common Malay word order:

Subject + Verb + Object

• Pembalut itu = the bandage / that bandage
• menutup = covers
• kasa = gauze

So it works very much like English: The bandage covers the gauze.

In Malay, demonstratives like ini and itu usually come after the noun.

So:

• pembalut itu = that bandage / the bandage
• kasa itu = that gauze

This is different from English, where we say that bandage, not bandage that.

In natural Malay, itu after a noun can sometimes feel like that, and sometimes more like the, depending on context.

It can function as either, depending on context.

In a sentence like this, pembalut itu could be understood as:

• that bandage
• or the bandage

Malay does not have a separate word exactly equivalent to the English article the in every case. Because of that, itu is often used when the speaker refers to something identifiable or already known.

The base word is tutup, which can mean close or cover.

When Malay forms an active transitive verb, it often adds the prefix meN-. So:

• tutup = close/cover
• menutup = to cover, to close, covers

Here menutup is the normal active verb form meaning covers.

This happens because of a common sound change with the meN- prefix.

When meN- is added to a root beginning with t, the t usually drops:

• tutup → menutup

So the pattern is not random; it follows a regular spelling and pronunciation rule in Malay.

It can mean both, depending on context.

Common meanings include:

• to close a door, shop, book, etc.
• to cover something physically

In this sentence, because the object is kasa (gauze), the meaning is naturally cover rather than close.

Yes. Pembalut is related to the root balut, which has the idea of wrapping or bandaging.

Very roughly:

• balut = wrap/bandage
• pembalut = wrapper, bandage, dressing, something used for wrapping/bandaging

So pembalut is a noun formed from that root.

Malay nouns usually do not have to show singular or plural explicitly.

So kasa could mean:

• gauze
• a piece of gauze
• sometimes gauze material in general

Usually context tells you whether one item or more than one is meant. In this sentence, English often translates it as singular because that sounds most natural: the gauze.

Malay does not mark tense on the verb the way English does.

So menutup by itself does not specifically mean:

• covers
• is covering
• covered
• will cover

The time is normally understood from context, or from time words such as:

• semalam = yesterday
• sekarang = now
• esok = tomorrow

Without any time marker, English usually translates it as simple present if that fits the situation: The bandage covers the gauze.

Malay often does not need words like English is, does, or is ... -ing in simple sentences.

English says:

• The bandage covers the gauze
• The bandage is covering the gauze

Malay can often just say:

• Pembalut itu menutup kasa

So Malay grammar is often more compact than English in this way.

Yes, depending on context.

Because Malay does not force the same tense/aspect distinctions as English, Pembalut itu menutup kasa could be interpreted in English in different ways, such as:

• The bandage covers the gauze
• That bandage is covering the gauze

The surrounding context decides which translation is best.

You would usually use tidak before the verb:

• Pembalut itu tidak menutup kasa.

That means:

• The bandage does not cover the gauze.
• That bandage is not covering the gauze.

Use tidak to negate verbs and adjectives.