Why do Malay and Javanese usually use subject-verb-object word order?

Most languages of western Indonesia, including Malay and Javanese, utilize a subject-verb-object (SVO) word order. While Proto-Austronesian is believed to have originally employed a verb-object-subject (VOS) structure, the syntax of many daughter languages has evolved significantly over time.12

The shift toward SVO in these languages is part of a broader pattern of grammatical change within the Austronesian languages family. For instance, while some languages retain fragments of an earlier, more integrated focus system, others—like Malay—have transitioned to a simpler active-passive verb contrast. In contrast to the SVO pattern found in modern Javanese, Old Javanese is noted for beginning sentences with a verb.21

It is important to note that word order across the Austronesian family is diverse; for example, many languages in the Philippines and Taiwan remain verb-initial (VSO or VOS), while some languages in New Guinea have adopted an SOV order due to long-term contact with Papuan languages.1