Malaysia risks missing crucial reforms as delay to climate change bill creates uncertainty

Malaysia risks missing crucial reforms as delay to climate change bill creates uncertaintyFormer environment minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad warned prolonged delays to Malaysia’s climate change bill and carbon pricing risk undermining investor confidence, while other panellists called for climate change to be treated as a national security issue and greater investment in adaptation. From left: Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Former Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability; Edward Vrkic, Resident Representative to Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director of Sunway Centre For Planetary Health (SCPH) on a panel moderated by Serina Hijjas, Director of HIJJAS Architects & Planners at the National Climate Governance Summit 2026 in Kuala Lumpur. Image: Climate Governance Malaysia