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Total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are undoubtedly emitted to the environment, humans, ecosystems, and global economic growth. However, less research has examined the effect of economic depression on carbon dioxide emission (CO2), especially in Malaysia. Thus, this study intents to examine the impact of the macroeconomic problems, namely unemployment (UNEMP) and the growing number of people: population (POP), on the CO2 emissions in Malaysia. The study analyzes the data for 28 years, covering the period of 1991–2019, employing a bound ARDL model as an estimation method. The time series data were sourced from the World Bank Development Indicators database. The finding from the study shows that CO2 emissions, POP, and UNEMP have a long-term cointegration. Under this situation, all variables indicated; UNEMP and POP lead to environmental degradation in Malaysia in the long run. The impact of both UNEMP and POP on CO2 emissions is positive. Moreover, it is also found that the damage of economic depression will take only around one year and a month on CO2 emissions. Thus, based on this novel finding, a comprehensive set of economic policies is required to ensure our economy is in good condition and hence suggested for maintaining the environmental quality.

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The issue of zakat on income has been discussed by scholars since those days of sahabah and tabi'in until today. Among the issues are hawl (lapse of a year), nisab (the capability line for zakat contribution) and al-hawa'ij al-asliyyah (basic needs). For the case of al-hawa'ij alasliyyah, the practice of zakat institution in Malaysia is to directly convert the exempted amount of personal, spouse and children, which is similarly performed by Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri (LHDN). The practice has raised a question among scholars. They argue whether the exempted amounts are exactly representing the costs of al-hawa'ij al-asliyyah which are required by shariah. Thus, this paper aims to explore the discussion of shariah on al-hawa'ij al-asliyyah with the specific items which has been conferred in classical fiqh and investigate the suitable items which is currently customized in daily life. The study applied a library research methodology by gathering the data from classical fiqh which investigated the opinions of scholars across of four major mazahib. The analysis of the data was done through content analysis and only the selected opinion was considered. The study found that the Hanafi Jurists among those scholars who strongly propagate the inclusion of Hawa'ij al-Asliyyah in zakat calculation. The idea is about to serve the meaning of being wealthy and rich where the group has first to fulfill their basic need before paying the zakat, the study also found that the suitable amount to be exempted for al-hawa'ij al-asliyyah should be referred to the standard used in calculating the CPI (Consumer Price Index) as for the current application in Malaysia. The amount should be flexible in order to cater the unexpected need such as hospitality, education and others.

Zakat plays a significant role in Muslim community as an agent in alleviating the poverty. The calculation of zakat payment depends of the calculation of nisab, which is the least amount of zakatable items of a Muslim wealth in one circle year. The zakat is an obligatory duty to a Muslim once the amount of wealth reaches the least level of nisab. This study aims to analyze the relationship between the niṣāb amount changes and the poor indication in Malaysia. This is based on the discussion of the contemporary scholars, who claimed that the price fluctuation in the world market impacts the amount of niṣāb of zakāt. Relatively, it could affect the poor once the price dropped. Therefore, the comparative analyses of the annually niṣāb and poverty line income data from 1993 to 2015 identifies that there is a significant correlation between the facts. Accordingly, it is an alert to the zakāt institution to take a precautionary step in preventing this situation.