Saya meminta bayaran balik.

A simple breakdown is:

• Saya = I
• meminta = request, ask for
• bayaran balik = refund

So the sentence is literally structured as:

• I + request + refund

That matches the English word order quite closely.

Minta is the base word meaning to ask for or to request.

When it becomes meminta, it has the meN- verb prefix, which is very common in Malay. This prefix often turns a root word into an active verb used in standard sentences.

So:

• minta = ask for, request
• meminta = to request, am requesting

In everyday spoken Malay, people often say Saya minta bayaran balik and that sounds natural too.
Meminta is a bit more formal or standard in style.

Bayaran balik means refund.

It is made up of:

• bayaran = payment
• balik = back, return

So the idea is payment returned back.

Depending on context, it can mean:

• a refund
• a repayment
• money returned after a purchase or cancellation

In most everyday situations, the best English equivalent is simply refund.

Malay often expresses ideas with multi-word combinations where English may use a single word.

Here:

• bayaran = payment
• balik = back

Together they form the fixed expression bayaran balik.

So even though English uses one common word, refund, Malay naturally uses a two-word phrase.

Yes, very similar.

Malay here follows:

• Subject + Verb + Object

So:

• Saya = subject
• meminta = verb
• bayaran balik = object

This is one reason the sentence is quite friendly for English speakers to understand.

Yes, it is grammatical and understandable.

However, in real conversation, many speakers would more often say:

• Saya minta bayaran balik
• Saya nak bayaran balik
• Saya ingin meminta bayaran balik

The difference is mainly tone:

• Saya meminta bayaran balik = correct, somewhat formal or written
• Saya minta bayaran balik = common and natural in speech
• Saya ingin meminta bayaran balik = more polite and softer
• Saya nak bayaran balik = direct, can sound a bit blunt depending on situation

It is understandable, but by itself it can sound a little direct.

If you want to sound more polite, you could say:

• Saya ingin meminta bayaran balik. = I would like to request a refund.
• Boleh saya minta bayaran balik? = May I ask for a refund?
• Saya ingin memohon bayaran balik. = I would like to apply/request for a refund.

If you are speaking to staff, a softer version is often better than a very direct statement.

Both can relate to requesting, but the tone is different.

• meminta = ask for, request
• memohon = apply for, formally request

So:

• Saya meminta bayaran balik = I request a refund
• Saya memohon bayaran balik = I formally request/apply for a refund

For ordinary customer situations, minta or meminta is very common.
Memohon sounds more formal and is often used in official or written contexts.

Sometimes, yes, especially in conversation.

For example:

• Minta bayaran balik can be understood as I want to request a refund or even as a command depending on tone and situation.

But leaving out saya can make the sentence less clear or more abrupt.

If you are learning Malay, it is safer to keep saya:

• Saya minta bayaran balik
• Saya ingin meminta bayaran balik

That sounds clearer and more polite.

Yes, saya is the standard and polite word for I in Malay.

It is appropriate in:

• customer service
• work situations
• speaking to strangers
• formal writing

Other forms exist, such as aku, but those are more informal and depend heavily on relationship and context.
For a sentence like this, saya is the right choice.

A few natural ways are:

• Boleh saya minta bayaran balik? = Can I ask for a refund?
• Saya boleh minta bayaran balik? = Can I request a refund?
• Bagaimana saya boleh minta bayaran balik? = How can I request a refund?

If you are actually speaking to staff, these question forms are often more natural than a plain statement.

A rough pronunciation guide is:

• meminta ≈ muh-MIN-tah

Syllables:

• me
• min
• ta

The stress in Malay is generally not as strong or dramatic as in English, but English speakers often find it easiest to hear it roughly as muh-MIN-tah.

Usually no, not by itself.

Bayaran balik specifically points to money being returned, so refund is the most natural meaning.

If you wanted compensation, Malay would more likely use another word, such as:

• ganti rugi = compensation, damages

So:

• Saya meminta bayaran balik = I am requesting a refund
• Saya meminta ganti rugi = I am requesting compensation

That distinction is useful in service and legal contexts.