Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank.

In Malay, the bare verb semak is often used in simple, direct, or conversational sentences. So Saya semak... is understandable and natural in many contexts, especially in speech, notes, or short statements.

The fuller, more formal standard form is Saya menyemak... because menyemak is the active verb with the meN- prefix.

So:

• Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank. = natural, shorter, conversational
• Saya menyemak baki akaun dan caj bank. = more formal, more explicitly grammatical in standard written Malay

Both can mean the same thing here.

Not always. Malay often drops the subject when it is clear from context.

So you might hear or see:

• Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank.
• Semak baki akaun dan caj bank.

But these can feel different:

• Saya semak... clearly means I check / I am checking
• Semak... by itself could sound like:
  • a note or headline
  • an instruction: Check the account balance and bank charges
  • a subject-less statement where context supplies the subject

If you want to make it clearly I, then saya is useful.

Malay noun phrases usually put the main noun first and the describing noun second.

So:

• baki akaun = account balance
  • main thing: baki = balance
  • what kind of balance? akaun = account

This is the opposite of English, where the describing noun often comes first:

• English: account balance
• Malay: baki akaun

The same pattern appears in:

• caj bank = bank charges
• nombor telefon = telephone number
• kad kredit = credit card

Yes. Dan means and.

The sentence groups like this:

• Saya semak
  • baki akaun
    • dan
      • caj bank

So the speaker is checking two things:

1. baki akaun = the account balance
2. caj bank = the bank charges

It does not mean something like the balance of the account and bank. The natural reading is:

• I check the account balance and the bank charges.

Caj bank means bank charges, bank fees, or charges imposed by the bank.

It is a compact noun phrase:

• caj = charge / fee
• bank = bank

So caj bank usually means charges related to banking, especially fees the bank applies.

Depending on context, other possible Malay words include:

• yuran bank = bank fee(s)
• fi bank = bank fee(s), often in finance-related language

But caj bank is very common and natural.

They are Malay spellings of loanwords:

• akaun comes from English account
• caj comes from English charge

Malay spelling usually follows Malay sound patterns rather than English spelling. That is why these words may look different from the original English forms.

A few similar examples:

• teksi = taxi
• stesen = station
• bas = bus

So akaun and caj are completely normal Malay words.

Malay verbs do not change form for tense the way English verbs do. So semak by itself does not tell you whether the action is present, past, or habitual.

Depending on context, Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank could mean:

• I check the account balance and bank charges
• I am checking the account balance and bank charges
• sometimes even I checked..., if the context makes that clear

Time is usually shown by context or by time words, for example:

• Sekarang saya semak... = Now I’m checking...
• Semalam saya semak... = Yesterday I checked...
• Setiap bulan saya semak... = Every month I check...

Malay usually does not use articles like a, an, or the.

So:

• baki akaun can mean account balance, the account balance, or an account balance
• caj bank can mean bank charges, the bank charges, etc.

Malay also often leaves out possessive words unless they are needed. So if context already makes it clear whose account it is, Malay does not have to say akaun saya.

If you want to be more explicit, you could say:

• Saya semak baki akaun saya dan caj bank. = I check my account balance and bank charges.

But the shorter version is very normal if the ownership is obvious.

Yes, periksa is also possible.

Both can work:

• semak = check, review, verify
• periksa = inspect, examine, check

In financial or administrative contexts, semak is often especially natural because it can suggest reviewing information carefully.

So these are both acceptable:

• Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank.
• Saya periksa baki akaun dan caj bank.

Very roughly:

• semak often feels like checking records, details, or information
• periksa can feel a little broader, including physical inspection as well

Yes. Menyemak is the more fully marked standard verb form, so it often sounds more formal, careful, or suited to standard written language.

Compare:

• Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank.
  Shorter, more conversational, common in speech and informal writing.

• Saya menyemak baki akaun dan caj bank.
  More formal, more textbook-like, often preferred in careful writing.

A learner should recognize both. If you want the safest standard written form, menyemak is a very good choice.

Yes. Because Malay does not mark tense directly on the verb, this sentence can describe either:

• something happening now
• a usual habit or routine

For example:

• Setiap pagi, saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank.
  = Every morning, I check the account balance and bank charges.

Without extra context, the sentence is neutral and flexible.

Yes, it is natural, especially in informal or practical contexts such as talking about banking, budgeting, or tasks.

That said, native speakers might choose slightly different versions depending on style:

• Saya semak baki akaun dan caj bank. = natural, concise
• Saya menyemak baki akaun dan caj bank. = more formal
• Saya semak baki akaun serta caj bank. = slightly more formal because of serta
• Saya periksa baki akaun dan caj bank. = also natural

So the given sentence is perfectly usable, especially if the style is simple and direct.