Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya pergi ke pasar sekarang.

"Ke" is a preposition that generally means "to" in English. In Malay, when indicating movement toward a specific place, you use "ke" to mark the destination.

Is it correct to say "Saya pergi pasar sekarang" without "ke"?

It's more grammatically correct to keep "ke" when mentioning where you're going. If you drop "ke", the sentence becomes less precise. Using "ke" clarifies that "pasar" (market) is the destination.

Does Malay have a specific tense marker like "am / is / are" for present tense?

Malay does not use a separate verb form or auxiliary for the present tense. Instead, the timing can be shown by words like "sekarang" (now) or contextual clues. So "Saya pergi ke pasar" can mean "I go to the market" in general, but adding "sekarang" clarifies it's happening right now.

Why is "sekarang" at the end of the sentence instead of the beginning?

In Malay, "sekarang" (now) can appear at the end or the beginning of a sentence without changing the meaning. Placing it at the end here is a common, natural placement. You could also say "Sekarang, saya pergi ke pasar", but "Saya pergi ke pasar sekarang" sounds more typical in everyday speech.