Malaysia CCUS Bill: Rafizi denies rushing legislation, defends consultation process

Former Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has denied claims that the Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Bill was rushed through Malaysia's Parliament. He stated the bill was presented to the Parliamentary Select Committee twice and involved consultations with state governments including Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak before being debated. The CCUS Bill received bipartisan support and is intended to provide a legal framework for managing greenhouse gas emissions, optimize depleting gas resources for energy security, and support the long-term competitiveness of heavy industries in Malaysia. Rafizi emphasized that while disagreement with the bill is acceptable, claims of insufficient consultation are inaccurate. A netizen who originally made the allegation later apologized after Rafizi's clarification, though she maintained that parliamentarians may not have had enough time to fully study the legislation's broader impact before passage. The bill was passed in March 2025.