Penerbit bebas menjual buku kulit lembut di gerai buku.

Malay adjectives usually come after the noun, so penerbit bebas can mean independent publisher/publishers.

But this sentence is also a little ambiguous without context:

• penerbit bebas = independent publisher(s)
• penerbit bebas menjual... = the publisher/publishers are free to sell...

Malay often leaves out is/are, so both readings are possible. Context tells you which meaning is intended.

Malay often does not use a separate verb like to be in the present tense.

So if the sentence means the publisher is free to sell..., Malay can simply say:

• Penerbit bebas menjual...

with no extra word for is/are.

If bebas is just modifying penerbit and means independent, then there is no hidden is/are at all.

Jual is the root word meaning sell.

Menjual is the normal active verb form, made with the meN- prefix:

• jual = sell
• menjual = to sell / sell

In a full standard sentence, menjual is more natural than bare jual.
The bare root jual is more common in things like:

• dictionary form
• commands
• casual or shortened speech

Because Malay does not use an infinitive marker like English to.

So:

• bebas menjual = free to sell

The verb can follow directly after bebas.

Yes, kulit literally often means skin, but it can also mean cover or outer layer.

In book vocabulary:

• kulit keras = hard cover
• kulit lembut = soft cover

So buku kulit lembut means a softcover book, often translated as paperback.

Yes. Buku berkulit lembut is also correct and often sounds a bit more explicit.

• buku kulit lembut = compact noun phrase
• buku berkulit lembut = literally a book having a soft cover

Both can work. The version with ber- makes the structure slightly clearer.

Because di here is a preposition meaning at / in / on, and prepositions are written separately:

• di gerai buku = at the book stall

This is different from the passive prefix di-, which is attached to a verb:

• dijual = sold

So:

• di gerai = correct
• digerai = wrong in this meaning

Not exactly.

• gerai = a stall, booth, or small sales stand
• kedai = a shop/store
• kedai buku = bookstore / bookshop
• gerai buku = book stall

So gerai buku suggests a smaller selling place than a full bookstore.

Malay usually does not mark these things the way English does.

So:

• penerbit can mean publisher or publishers
• buku can mean book or books
• gerai buku can mean a book stall, the book stall, or book stalls, depending on context

Malay relies heavily on context. If needed, speakers can add extra words to be more specific.

No, not here.

Simple modifiers often come directly after the noun in Malay:

• penerbit bebas
• buku kulit lembut

You do not need yang for this kind of compact noun phrase.

Yang is more common when the description is more clause-like or when you want to spell things out more fully.

The normal order is:

• subject + verb + object + place

So one reading is:

• Penerbit bebas = subject
• menjual = verb
• buku kulit lembut = object
• di gerai buku = place

In other words, Malay word order here is very similar to English.

Yes. Penerbit can mean:

• a publisher as a person, or
• a publishing company / publishing house

Context decides which is meant. In many real situations, learners will see penerbit used for a company rather than just one individual.