The Malaysian government's announcement that migrants and asylum seekers from the Burmese ethnic minority - Rohingya - will be given identity cards has been welcomed but there are calls for an immediate release of details regarding the process.

Opposition parliamentarian Teresa Kok said she has been receiving numerous queries from Burmese groups seeking further details on the matter.

She is however unable to provide answers because her own queries were not addressed by the government when she pursued the matter after it was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz.

"When I asked for the details, Nazri told me to take it up at the home affairs ministry meeting but that will only happen at the end of the month," she said in a phone interview this morning.

She added that it was important that things were made clear to limit confusion for all parties involved especially the thousands of Rohingyas.

When making the announcement last Wednesday Nazri said the government will release the details this week.

The minister was not available for further comments when his office was contacted today.

Keep promise

Alice Nah, a social activist who works closely with the Rohingya community told malaysiakini that the announcement had brought some hope to the community members but these long unprotected Burmese want action and not words.

"The want to see implementation of this announcement and not mere promises from the Malaysian authorities," she said.

"It's a positive move and it is also important that the government keep the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) aware and in dialogue with relation to the move," she added.

The UNHCR when contacted today said its chief Volker Turk has been speaking to his contacts in the government to seek clarification on the modalities of the move.

The agency said it could not comment more on it without further official information from the government as there has already been a varied account of the move in the press.

"Clarification is also needed as to whether these identity cards will be issued as a joint document with the UNHCR and if this move will duplicate the agencies own ongoing issuing of refugee letters and temporary protection letters," said a UNHCR official.

Meanwhile, the official also informed malaysiakini that there is going to be a change in format of UNHCR letters issued to asylum seekers as it will soon be in pocket-sized cards.

"The face value of the document is going to be the same but now its security features are better as its easily for holders to keep them safely (and produce them when asked by authorities)," added the official.

The National Human Rights Society of Malaysia (Hakam) said it was going to write-in to the Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid for details on the government identity cards for Rohingyas.