In Malaysia, Malay defined as someone born to a Malaysian citizen who professes to be a Muslim, habitually speaks the Malay language, adheres to Malay customs and having the malay traditional lifestyle and culture in their daily life. People of a variety of ethnic backgrounds who professes Islam which basically can be defined as "Malaysian Muslims" , therefore differs from the anthropological understanding of what constitutes an ethnic Malay.

Malay cannot convert out of Islam as illustrated in the Federal Courtdecision and this has led to the creation of an ethnoreligious identity for all the malays in Malaysia.

Malay made up 51% of the population of Malaysia which can said that is the largest group of races in Malaysia.