Tempoh kontrak itu panjang.

• tempoh = period, duration, term
• kontrak = contract
• itu = that / the
• panjang = long

So the phrase tempoh kontrak itu means that contract’s duration or the duration of the contract, and panjang says that it is long.

In Malay, adjectives usually come after the noun they describe.

So:

• tempoh ... panjang = a long duration
• literally: duration ... long

This is normal Malay word order. English says long contract period, but Malay says contract period long.

Malay often leaves out the verb to be in simple descriptive sentences.

So:

• Tempoh kontrak itu panjang = The contract period is long

There is no need to add a word for is here. This is one of the biggest differences from English.

Itu often means that, but in many sentences it can also feel like the, depending on context.

So kontrak itu can mean:

• that contract
• the contract

In this sentence, it points to a specific contract already known in the conversation.

It most naturally means the period/duration of that contract.

In Malay, when two nouns are placed together, the first noun is often linked to the second like X of Y:

• tempoh kontrak = contract period / period of the contract
• harga rumah = house price
• nama sekolah = school name

So tempoh kontrak itu is best understood as the duration of that contract.

Yes. Panjang literally means long, and it can describe both physical length and abstract length, including time or duration.

Examples:

• jalan panjang = a long road
• rambut panjang = long hair
• tempoh yang panjang = a long period

So using panjang for a contract term is completely natural.

No. Tempoh is common and natural for official or formal durations, such as:

• tempoh kontrak = contract period
• tempoh perkhidmatan = service period
• tempoh sah laku = validity period

Other related expressions include:

• jangka masa = time span, period
• masa = time

For contracts, tempoh kontrak is a very standard choice.

Yes, and it is very close in meaning, but there is a slight nuance.

• panjang = long in length/extent
• lama = long in time / lasting a long time

For durations, many speakers use both, but lama emphasizes time more directly.
So:

• Tempoh kontrak itu panjang = the contract period is long
• Tempoh kontrak itu lama = the contract lasts a long time / the contract period is long

Both are understandable, but tempoh ... panjang is a very common formal-style expression.

You can use tidak before the adjective:

• Tempoh kontrak itu tidak panjang. = The contract period is not long.

If you want to say the opposite more positively:

• Tempoh kontrak itu pendek. = The contract period is short.

A simple spoken way is to use rising intonation:

• Tempoh kontrak itu panjang? = Is the contract period long?

You can also use a question word in a fuller sentence:

• Adakah tempoh kontrak itu panjang? = Is the contract period long?

In everyday conversation, the intonation-only version is very common.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

TEM-poh kon-TRAK EE-too PAN-jang

Notes:

• tempoh: the e is like a neutral vowel, similar to the a in about
• kontrak: stress is not as strong as in English, but the second syllable often sounds slightly clearer
• itu: sounds like ee-too
• panjang: the nj sounds like the ny sound in canyon for many English speakers approximating it

Malay pronunciation is generally quite regular, so once you know the sounds, reading is fairly straightforward.