Cadangan

Cadangan is a term used in Malay and Indonesian with several related meanings. In Malay, cadangan most often refers to a suggestion, proposal, or recommendation offered for consideration, typically in formal settings such as meetings, planning documents, or public policy discussions. In Indonesian, cadangan shares the sense of a proposed plan or recommendation, but it is also widely used to denote a reserve or stock kept for contingencies, such as cadangan minyak (oil reserves) or cadangan pangan (food reserves).

Etymology and form. The word derives from the root cadang, meaning to plan or propose, with the suffix -an forming a noun that denotes either the thing proposed or the item kept in reserve. The sense of reserve is common in economic, military, and resource-management contexts, while the sense of proposal is common in governance, business, and project planning.

Usage in practice. In planning and decision-making, cadangan refers to ideas or proposals submitted for consideration, evaluation, and potential approval. In resource management and energy sectors, cadangan is used to describe quantities that are available for future use or that could be developed, such as mineral or energy reserves. The exact meaning depends on context and accompanying terminology, and the word may be paired with qualifiers to specify whether it is a mere proposal or a physical reserve.

See also. Related terms include saran and usulan, which are closer to “suggestion” or “proposal” in everyday usage, and cadangan minyak or cadangan pangan, which refer to reserves in energy and food contexts.