Page "Constitution of Malaysia" Paragraph 162

As being a Muslim is one of the components of the definition, Malay citizens who convert out of Islam are no longer considered Malay under the Constitution.

Hence, the Bumiputra privileges afforded to Malays under Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia, the New Economic Policy ( NEP ), etc.

are forfeit for such converts.

Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can lay claim to Bumiputra privileges, provided he meets the other conditions.

A higher education textbook conforming to the government Malaysian studies syllabus states: " This explains the fact that when a non-Malay embraces Islam, he is said to masuk Melayu ( become a Malay ).

That person is automatically assumed to be fluent in the Malay language and to be living like a Malay as a result of his close association with the Malays.