#1 Sayang

Source: Wiktionary

Sayang: 1. (noun) love

              2. (synonym) darling, sweetheart

              3. (verb) to love

And it also has a meaning in Tagalog, but no direct translation in english. In Tagalog, 'sayang', is used as an expression of failure to capitalize an opportunity.

When i was in highschool, my Malay Language teacher told us to try and say the word 'sayang' 11 times to make a sentence. Try it.

sayang-sayang, sayang sayang sayang? sayang sayang sayang, sayang sayang sayang?

understand?

to those who havent.

the first 2 'sayang' indicates the first person calling out to the second person as their beloved.

the 3 'sayang's after that, is a question which directly translates to "darling, do you love me?" whereby the first person has already acknowledge that he/she is the beloved. It's more of a rhetorical question if you ask me.

the next 3 'sayang's simply means "i love you". (noun first person)(verb)(noun second person)

the last 3 'sayang's is just the same question, but asked again as a reinforcement. 

So basically, the direct translation of the whole sentence means:

"darling, do you love me? i love you. so, do you love me?"

It is interesting to note that the word 'sayang' can be use to describe both parties. It is like, both of them are already in love, which is why i think it is a bit rhetorical.

In Malaysia, 'sayang' is also used as a way to express when you don't want to throw something away due to its preciousness (as was explain by one of my sister below). And it can also be used the same way it is use in Tagalog, which is to express the failure to capitalize an opportunity.

The examples of this, respectively:

Situation 1: "Sayangnya nak buang makanan ini" which roughly translate to "it is going to be a waste to throw this food away", but 'sayang' here is use as the expression

Situation 2: "Sayangnya, awak patut dapat kerja itu" which roughly translate to "you should have gotten that job", again 'sayang' is use as the expression.

Sayang,

Iman

p.S: no, 'sayang' cannot be use to denote "love," in this case. Well, maybe you could, but i'm not too sure. It sounds a bit weird