Learn Hardcore Malay: Saya susun nota-nota ringkas supaya maklumatnya jelas dan mudah dicari. - I arrange the brief notes so that the information is clear and easy to find.

Both are acceptable. Menyusun is the standard active form with the prefix meN- (meN- + susun → menyusun), and sounds more formal. Using the bare root susun after saya is common in everyday speech and notes. For formal writing, prefer Saya menyusun...

Why is nota-nota reduplicated? Can I just say nota ringkas?

Reduplication (nota-nota) signals plurality or variety. Malay doesn’t require plural marking, so nota ringkas can already mean either singular or plural from context. Use nota-nota if you want to emphasize “many notes.” If there’s a quantifier, don’t reduplicate: beberapa nota ringkas, banyak nota ringkas.

Why is ringkas after nota-nota? Do I need yang?

Adjectives normally follow nouns in Malay, so nota-nota ringkas is the default order. You don’t need yang for a simple adjective. Use yang when you’re specifying or using a longer descriptor, e.g., nota-nota yang ringkas dan padat.

What does supaya mean, and how is it different from agar, untuk, and biar?

supaya + clause: so that/in order that (neutral, common).
agar + clause: near-synonym of supaya, more formal.
biar + clause: more colloquial/casual (“let/so that”).
untuk + verb/noun: for/to (takes a verb or noun phrase, not a full clause).
Example: untuk memudahkan pencarian maklumat vs supaya maklumatnya mudah dicari.

What does -nya in maklumatnya do? Is it possessive or just “the”?

-nya can mark third-person possession (its/his/her) or function as a definite marker (“the”) tied to known context. Here, maklumatnya means “the information (in it/in those notes).” Without -nya (maklumat), it feels more general; with -nya, it’s anchored to the notes just mentioned.

Can I say maklumat itu instead of maklumatnya?

Yes. Maklumat itu = “that/the information” (pointing to known info). Maklumatnya ties it more directly to the previously mentioned entity (the notes), as in “its information.” In very formal writing, you might also see maklumat tersebut.

What is dicari exactly, and why not mencari?

Dicari is the passive form (di- + cari = “to be searched for”), which pairs naturally with mudah to mean “easy to find” (literally, “easy to be searched-for”).
Using mencari (“to look for”) would change the meaning: mudah mencari means “(someone) easily looks for,” not “easy to find.”

Do I need untuk in mudah dicari (i.e., mudah untuk dicari)?

It’s optional. Both mudah dicari and mudah untuk dicari are acceptable; without untuk is a bit more concise and very common. With untuk can sound slightly more formal or careful.

Can I use senang instead of mudah?

Yes. Senang dicari is perfectly natural and a bit more colloquial. Mudah leans slightly more formal or neutral. Both mean “easy.”

Does jelas need a linking verb like adalah or menjadi?

No. Adjectives work as predicates in Malay. Maklumatnya jelas = “The information is clear.”
You can use menjadi if you mean “become”: menjadi jelas (“becomes clear”). Avoid using adalah before adjectives.

How do I show tense in Saya susun? Is it past, present, or future?

Malay doesn’t mark tense on the verb. Context or particles do the job:

Past/completed: Saya sudah/telah menyusun...
Progressive: Saya sedang menyusun...
Future: Saya akan menyusun..., Nanti saya menyusun... Without markers, Saya susun... can be habitual or context-dependent.

What register is this sentence? How would I make it more formal?

As written, it’s neutral-to-casual because of the bare verb susun. A more formal version is:

Saya menyusun nota ringkas supaya maklumatnya jelas dan mudah dicari. You could also switch supaya to agar for an even more formal tone.

Can I start the sentence with the purpose clause (Supaya...)?

Yes: Supaya maklumatnya jelas dan mudah dicari, saya (meny)usun nota ringkas.
Fronting the purpose clause emphasizes the goal first. It’s stylistically fine.

Any pronunciation tips for tricky parts like dicari, ringkas, and -nya?

c in cari/dicari is like English “ch” (di-CHA-ree).
ng in ringkas is like “ng” in “sing” (RING-kas).
-nya is like “nyah” (as in “canyon” + “yah”): mak-lu-mat-nya.
u is “oo” (as in “food”): maklumat = mak-LOO-mat.
Stress is fairly even; don’t over-stress syllables as in English.

Are there other natural ways to express the same idea?

A few stylistic alternatives:

Saya menyusun nota ringkas agar maklumatnya jelas dan senang dicari.
Untuk memudahkan pencarian maklumat, saya menyusun nota ringkas.
Saya menyusun nota ringkas supaya maklumat menjadi jelas dan mudah dicari.