Tarikh laporan itu betul.

The date of the report is correct.

Breakdown of Tarikh laporan itu betul.

• adalah: to be
• itu: that
• tarikh: the date
• laporan: the report
• betul: correct

Questions & Answers about Tarikh laporan itu betul.

What is the function and meaning of tarikh?

Tarikh means “date.” In this sentence, it’s the head noun (the subject) referring to the calendar date you’re talking about.

How does Malay express “the date of that report”? Why isn’t there a word for “of”?

Malay doesn’t use a separate preposition for “of.” Instead, you put the possessor after the head noun. Here:

• tarikh (head noun = “date”)
• laporan itu (possessor = “that report”)
  So tarikh laporan itu literally reads “date report that” but means “the date of that report.”

What does laporan itu mean, and why is itu placed after laporan?

Laporan means “report.” Itu is the demonstrative pronoun “that.” In Malay, demonstratives (ini/itu) always follow the noun they modify. Thus laporan itu = “that report.”

Why is there no verb “is” in the sentence?

In Malay equational or descriptive sentences, the copula “to be” is usually omitted. Instead, you place the adjective or noun phrase directly after the subject. Here, betul (“correct”) serves as the predicate without needing a separate “is.”

Can I include adalah or ialah as the copula?

Yes. In more formal or written Malay you can insert a copula:

• Tarikh laporan itu adalah betul.
• Tarikh laporan itu ialah betul.
  However, in everyday speech these are often left out, so the shorter Tarikh laporan itu betul is perfectly natural.

Why is betul at the end, and could it ever come before the noun?

As a predicative adjective, betul follows the subject phrase. Attributive adjectives (when you directly modify a noun) also follow the noun, e.g. rumah besar (“big house”). You cannot place betul before tarikh in this context; betul tarikh laporan itu would be ungrammatical.

What’s the difference between ini and itu? How would I say “the date of this report is correct”?

Ini means “this” (something close to the speaker), while itu means “that” (farther away or already mentioned). To say “the date of this report is correct,” you swap itu for ini:
Tarikh laporan ini betul.