KUALA LUMPUR: A meeting was held between the federal government and state government to establish policies, directions, and matters related to climate change.
The meeting, organised by Majlis Tindakan Perubahan Iklim Negara (MTPIN) 2023, was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and attended by Cabinet ministers.
The meeting discussed three papers, including a proposal to strengthen MTPIN as the country’s highest platform in coordinating climate change issues, a proposal for the establishment of policies related to the implementation of the national carbon market mechanism, and a proposal for the country’s stance on key issues to be negotiated by the country’s delegation at the united Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference.
In a recent statement, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni expressed Sarawak’s position regarding the proposal for the implementation of the carbon market mechanism in Malaysia.
Among other things, he emphasised that Sarawak’s right to regulate carbon projects in forestry, land, and water is a matter listed in the State List under the Federal Constitution.
“This right should be considered and respected within the framework of the national carbon market because matters related to the ‘environment’ fall under the Residual Legislative Powers, where states can legislate on such matters.”
He added that Sarawak fundamentally supports the federal government’s climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives to ensure environmental sustainability for the wellbeing of future generations.
