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It is generally considered that all Malays are bumiputra and that all bumiputras are Malay. This is technically incorrect, as there are cases of non-Malays declared as bumiputra, and similarly of Malays (who are not muslim) who are not considered bumiputra. However, the definition excludes ethnic Chinese and Indians.
This confusion is compounded by the fact that different ministries of the government may have different definitions themselves. What is not obscure is that legally-based preferential racial bias for bumiputra is built into the Malaysian constitution. In practice, racial policies were a consistent, even fundamental basis for the long regime of Mahathir bin Mohamad, 1981 - 2003, as laid out in his own book The Malay Dilemma (1970).
The Malaysian Federal Constitution has clauses specifically addressing this area. For example, article 153 states that:
Since 1970, bumiputras have enjoyed numerous legal and economic advantages in Malaysia, including admission to college, positions in government and ownership in business. Since 2000, the Government has discussed phasing out these advantages, and reinstating a "meritocracy". In 2003, the government opened up university admissions.
The legal and economic advantages were intended to reduce the economic dominance that was traditionally held by ethnic Chinese and Indians. Some argue that the advantages afforded to bumiputras are said to border on outright racism. For example, it is required that a certain percentage of stock in a publicly traded company must be owned by bumiputras, opening possible abuses by both Malays and non-Malays. Bumiputras are also traditionally charged less for purchases of real estate property compared to those of other races in Malaysia. However, others argue that the legal and economic advantages were necessary for Malaysia to reduce ethnic conflict and insure that economic opportunity in Malaysia was evenly distributed. ;;;