The move to recognise Burmese Muslims or Rohingyas as refugees became policy last November, but has yet to be implemented, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said today that the Internal Security Division of the Home Ministry had agreed to recognise the Rohingyas as refugees in a meeting on Nov 13 last year following a co-ordination meeting on Oct 6. They were to have been issued identity documents (IDs).

The Nov 13 meeting, he said, was attended by officers from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Attorney-General's Chambers and Home Ministry.

"The approved mechanism for the IDs was then referred to the AG's Chambers," he told United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Kuala Lumpur, Volker Turk, at a briefing in Putrajaya.

Mohd Nazri invited malaysiakini to sit on on the meeting in recognition of its initiative in obtaining information for an earlier report, based on his reply in the Dewan Rakyat.

"This is a firm decision (by the government). It is one year and the policy is stuck somewhere but I'm not sure why the Home Ministry has not done anything yet, but I'm glad this issue is now out in the open," he said.

"We're trying to reduce red tape. I'll pursue this issue because we want the IDs to be issued quickly so that the Rohingyas can find jobs."

The IDs, he said, are not authorised as a citizenship or travel document but to facilitate employment and education for the Rohingyas. It will be issued by the immigration department.

"The ID is only to enable them to stay here and earn their keep until the Burmese government can confirm their status as citizens and stop persecuting them," Mohd Nazri said.

He also said he would be getting an update from Home Minister Azmi Khalid during the weekly cabinet meeting tomorrow.

'It's unbelievable'

In an immediate reaction, Turk said he welcomed the policy and would ask the Home Ministry for details.

The UNHCR estimates there are about 10,000 Rohingyas in Malaysia. Many had claimed to face difficult encounters with enforcement officers during operations to round up illegal immigrants.

"I'll be writing to the minister (Azmi) this week and will offer the government any help that we can render in the implementation process," he said.

"It is a total surprise to me to learn that the policy was approved last year. It is such a breakthrough ... it's unbelievable."

Turk said the UNHCR and the international community would be appreciative of the decision.
"It demonstrates the strong humanitarian tradition of Malaysia and of this government in particular. After so long, the Rohingyas are finally being recognised as they should be."

He said the only other time Malaysia has granted refugee status was to Filipinos when they were fleeing Mindanao between 1972 and 1984.