[citation needed] It took effect after 31 August 1957 ("Merdeka Day" or "Independence Day") in the Federation of Malaya (now Peninsular Malaysia), and took effect in Singapore and East Malaysia when they merged with Malaya in 1963 to jointly form Malaysia.
Although the article no longer applies to Singapore since its separation from Malaysia in 1965, it does affect the legal status of Malay Singaporeans when they enter Malaysia.
Hence, the bumiputra privileges afforded to Malays under Article 153 of the Constitution, the New Economic Policy (NEP), etc.
Those who converted to another religion have created a number of legal issues.
[2] Likewise, a non-Malay Malaysian who converts to Islam can lay claim to Bumiputra privileges, provided he meets the other conditions.