Learn Hardcore Malay: Kawasan kerja ini bersih dan tenang.

Malay does not use articles. Nouns stand alone without a, an, or the. Definiteness is understood from context or added words like ini (“this”) or itu (“that”) if needed.

What role does ini play in kawasan kerja ini?

ini is a demonstrative meaning “this.” In Malay, demonstratives usually follow the noun they modify. So kawasan kerja ini literally means “area work this,” i.e. “this work area.”

Why isn’t there a verb is in the sentence?

Malay often drops the copula is/am/are in descriptive or equational sentences. If you want a more formal tone, you can insert adalah:
“Kawasan kerja ini adalah bersih dan tenang,”
but in everyday speech adalah is usually omitted.

Could I move ini to the front, as in Ini kawasan kerja?

Yes. Ini kawasan kerja also means “This is a work area.” In that structure ini functions as the subject pronoun “this,” followed by the noun phrase. It’s a more standalone identification: “This is a work area.”

In kawasan kerja, which word is the head noun and which is the modifier?

kawasan (area) is the head noun. kerja (work) modifies kawasan to indicate the kind of area: literally “area of work,” i.e. “work area.”

Why do bersih and tenang come after the noun?

Adjectives in Malay normally follow the nouns they describe. Here, bersih (“clean”) and tenang (“quiet/calm”) follow kawasan kerja ini to complete the predicate.

What is dan doing between bersih and tenang?

dan is the coordinating conjunction “and,” joining the two adjectives. The structure is parallel: “clean and quiet.”

How would I say “very clean and very quiet”?

You add sangat (“very”) before each adjective:
“Kawasan kerja ini sangat bersih dan sangat tenang.”

How do you express plurality here if you meant “these work areas”?

Malay often uses context for plurals or repeats the noun:
kawasan-kawasan kerja ini bersih dan tenang
literally “these work-areas are clean and quiet.” You can also specify a number or use words like beberapa (“several”) if needed.