Kuala lumpur: The government has yet to determine an appropriate rate for the carbon tax, which is scheduled for implementation next year, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. He indicated that the rate would only be decided after the National Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN), to be tabled by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, is presented and passed in Parliament next year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Finance Minister emphasized the necessity of waiting for RUUPIN, which will provide a standard methodology to calculate emissions and establish a benchmark. The carbon tax will be applied only when emissions exceed that benchmark. Currently, the Ministry of Finance has not conducted an in-depth study to determine the appropriate carbon tax rate, as the baseline under RUUPIN must first be established.

Amir Hamzah made these comments while responding to international media reports that claimed Malaysia would impose a carbon tax rate of RM15 per tonne starting next year. He dismissed these reports as speculative and clarified that the government has not finalised any specific rate.

He further explained that once RUUPIN is approved, the government will conduct a detailed assessment before setting the carbon tax rate. This evaluation will include a review of major industries such as iron, steel, and utilities, which are identified as some of the country’s largest carbon emitters.