Article 160 of the Constitution of Malaysia defines various terms used in the Constitution. It has an important impact on Islam in Malaysia and the Malay people due to its definition of a Malay person under clause 2.[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.