Learn Hardcore Malay: Jalan sesak sekarang.

Here jalan means “road” or “street.” Malay words can have multiple senses, but in “Jalan sesak sekarang” it refers to the physical road, not the verb “to walk.”

Why is there no word for “is” in Jalan sesak sekarang? Shouldn’t it be “Jalan adalah sesak sekarang”?

Malay often omits the copula “to be” in simple adjective or noun sentences. You link the noun and adjective directly. So “Jalan sesak sekarang” literally reads “Road congested now,” which naturally means “The road is congested now.”

What part of speech is sesak here?

In this context, sesak is an adjective meaning “congested,” “crowded,” or “gridlocked” (for traffic). It describes the state of the road.

Why is sekarang placed at the end? Can I move it somewhere else?

Adverbs of time like sekarang (now) typically go at the end in Malay, but you can front it for emphasis:

“Sekarang jalan sesak.” (Now the road is congested.)
Both orders are grammatically correct, though the standard order is to end with the time adverb.