The government is worried that its recent decision to recognise Rohingya Muslims from Burma as refugees in Malaysia could be abused by certain interested parties.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said today the government is also worried there would be an influx of Rohingyas as a result of the new policy.

"I have to make it clear that the new policy is meant to protect the Rohingyas already in Malaysia ... we are not encouraging more of them to come here," he told a group of Rohingyas who met him at the Parliament House this afternoon.

"I hope this new policy will not be abused by the Rohingya community here," he added.

Nazri said that details of the new policy such as the form of the identity documents and when the enforcement details will be made available has yet to be decided.

"Meantime, we have informed the police not to arrest the Rohingyas, so don't worry about going out in public," Nazri told the group, adding that other relevant departments will also be informed soon on this latest policy.

The minister held a one-hour meeting with the delegation of 11 Rohingyas led by the Rohingya Information Centre director Sawmee Ullah.

Also present were United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative Volker Turk and consultant Evan G Ruth, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang and DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

' No directive'

Earlier this morning, Deputy Home Affairs Minister Tan Chai Ho said his ministry had not received any cabinet directive to issue identity cards to the Rohingya community.

He told reporters at Parliament lobby that his ministry should have been informed of the latest development as the issuance of the identity documents is under his ministry's jurisdiction.

Nazri had before this said the move to recognise the Rohingyas as refugees had became a policy last November but had yet to be implemented.

UNHCR estimates there are about 10,000 Rohingyas in Malaysia. Many had claimed that they were facing problems with enforcement officers during operations to round up illegal immigrants.

Their recognition as refugees will now provide the community with more job opportunities besides ensuring their children's education.