Mereka menderita kerana banjir.

Mereka can mean both they and them, because Malay pronouns do not change form for subject and object the way English pronouns do.

• Mereka menderita. = They suffer / They are suffering.
• Saya nampak mereka. = I see them.

So in this sentence, mereka is the subject, so it means they.

Malay usually does not use a verb like to be in the same way English does for normal present-tense statements.

So:

• Mereka menderita literally looks like They suffer
• But it can also naturally mean They are suffering, depending on context

Malay often leaves tense and aspect unstated unless they need to be made clearer.

Not exactly. Malay verbs do not change form for tense like English verbs do.

So menderita can mean:

• suffer
• are suffering
• suffered
• will suffer

The time is usually understood from context, or shown with extra words such as:

• sedang = currently / in the process of
• telah / sudah = already / past
• akan = will

Examples:

• Mereka sedang menderita kerana banjir. = They are suffering because of the flood.
• Mereka telah menderita kerana banjir. = They suffered / have suffered because of the flood.

Menderita comes from the root derita, which is related to suffering or distress.

The prefix meN- is a very common verbal prefix in Malay. It often forms an active verb.

So:

• derita = suffering, misery, distress
• menderita = to suffer / to undergo suffering

In this word, meN- becomes men- because of the sound pattern of the root.

You do not need to break it apart every time, but it helps to recognize that menderita is a normal active verb form.

Kerana means because or because of.

It is very similar to sebab, but there is a style difference:

• kerana = often a bit more formal or standard
• sebab = very common in everyday speech

So these are both possible:

• Mereka menderita kerana banjir.
• Mereka menderita sebab banjir.

Both are understandable. In careful writing, kerana is often preferred.

Yes. In Malay, kerana can be followed by:

• a clause
• or a noun phrase

So kerana banjir means because of the flood or because of flooding.

Examples:

• kerana hujan = because of rain
• kerana kemalangan itu = because of that accident
• kerana dia lewat = because he was late

So kerana banjir is completely natural.

Malay generally does not use articles like a, an, or the.

So banjir can mean:

• flood
• the flood
• flooding

The exact meaning depends on context.

If a speaker wants to be more specific, they can add words like:

• itu = that / the one mentioned
• ini = this

For example:

• banjir itu = that flood / the flood
• banjir besar itu = that big flood

But in many cases, just banjir is enough.

Yes, this sentence follows the normal Malay order:

Subject + Verb + Reason

• Mereka = subject
• menderita = verb
• kerana banjir = reason phrase

So it is structurally quite close to English:

• They suffer because of the flood.

That said, Malay is sometimes flexible, but this order is the most straightforward and natural here.

Yes. Akibat banjir means as a result of the flood or due to the flood.

So:

• Mereka menderita kerana banjir.
• Mereka menderita akibat banjir.

Both are correct.

A rough difference:

• kerana = because of
• akibat = as a result of / due to

Akibat can sound a little more formal or written.

Yes, but it is somewhat stronger and more serious than a very casual verb.

Menderita suggests real suffering, hardship, pain, or distress. It is often used for:

• disasters
• illness
• poverty
• emotional pain
• difficult living conditions

So in a sentence about a flood, menderita is very appropriate because it suggests that the people are genuinely suffering from the effects of the disaster.