On 19 December 2025, the Malaysian Accounting Standards Board (MASB) issued a publication titled “Disclosures about Uncertainties in the Financial Statements”.

The publication contains six illustrative examples designed to help companies understand how to disclose uncertainties in their financial statements. The examples are aligned with guidance issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and demonstrate how existing IFRS and MFRS requirements can be applied in practice.

Although many of the examples focus on climate-related uncertainties, the principles are also relevant to other uncertainties that may affect financial reporting.

These examples do not introduce new accounting requirements or amend existing standards. Instead, they provide practical guidance to help entities apply current disclosure requirements more clearly and consistently.

There is no formal effective date. However, entities are encouraged to consider the examples when preparing financial statements for periods ending in December 2025 onwards.

The Issue under MFRS 136

The illustrative example relating to MFRS 136 Impairment of Assets focuses on how companies should disclose the key assumptions used in impairment testing when significant uncertainties exist.

A company may test an asset or a cash-generating unit (CGU) for impairment and conclude that:

• The recoverable amount is higher than the carrying amount; and

• No impairment loss needs to be recognised.

However, the calculation of recoverable amount often depends on important assumptions, including:

• Future demand;

• Regulatory changes;

• Commodity prices;

• Environmental policies; and

• The transition to new technology.

Even when no impairment loss is recognised, these assumptions may still involve significant uncertainty.

The key question is therefore:

When future uncertainties significantly affect the assumptions used in impairment testing, should the company disclose those assumptions?

Under paragraph 125 of MFRS 101, an entity must disclose information about assumptions if there is a significant risk that they could result in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets or liabilities in the next financial year.

The issue is therefore not only whether an impairment loss should be recognised. It is also whether the assumptions used in the impairment testing require additional disclosure.

Disclosure Requirements under MFRS 136

Under paragraph 134 of MFRS 136, companies are required to disclose:

• The key assumptions used in determining recoverable amounts;

• The approach used to determine those assumptions; and

• Sensitivity analysis when a reasonably possible change in an assumption could cause an impairment loss.

The illustrative example provides further clarity on how these disclosures should be presented when the assumptions involve significant uncertainty.

Example: A Manufacturing Company with Carbon-Related Risks

Assume that a manufacturing company produces significant carbon emissions and is required by environmental regulations to purchase carbon emission allowances.

When testing a CGU for impairment, management may need to estimate:

• Future carbon allowance prices;

• Future emissions regulations; and

• Future operating costs.

These assumptions affect the future cash flows used to calculate value in use.

The company may conclude that no impairment loss is required at the reporting date. However, the assumptions may still be highly sensitive to changes in market conditions, regulation and operating costs.

The company may therefore need to disclose:

• The key assumptions used, such as expected carbon allowance prices;

• How those assumptions were determined;

• Whether they are consistent with available external market information; and

• The extent to which the assumptions would need to change before an impairment loss is recognised.

These disclosures help users understand the uncertainty surrounding the value of the company’s assets and how close the assets may be to impairment.

Who May Be Affected?

1. Companies with Significant Long-Term Assets

The guidance is particularly relevant to capital-intensive industries that rely heavily on long-term forecasts when estimating recoverable amounts, including:

• Manufacturing;

• Energy;

• Mining;

• Infrastructure; and

• Aviation.

2. Financial Statement Preparers

Finance teams should carefully assess:

• Whether the assumptions used in impairment testing are key assumptions;

• Whether external uncertainties affect those assumptions; and

• Whether sensitivity disclosures are necessary.

This may result in more detailed explanations in the notes to the financial statements.

3. Auditors

Auditors are likely to focus more closely on:

• The assumptions used by management in impairment testing;

• Whether those assumptions are reasonable and supportable; and

• Whether the disclosures adequately explain the related estimation uncertainty.

Entities should expect greater scrutiny of impairment testing and related disclosures during the audit.

4. Investors and Other Financial Statement Users

Investors need to understand:

• How sensitive asset values are to changes in key assumptions; and

• What future risks could trigger an impairment loss.

Transparent disclosure helps users assess the potential for future impairment and understand the factors that may change management’s conclusion.

When Should Entities Consider the Guidance?

The illustrative examples do not amend MFRS 136 and therefore do not have a mandatory effective date.

However:

• MASB issued the guidance on 19 December 2025; and

• Entities are encouraged to consider it when preparing financial statements for periods ending in December 2025 onwards.

Companies should implement any necessary additional disclosures within a reasonable period, or “sufficient time”. This would typically mean within several months and generally not more than one year.

Key Lessons for Accountants and Auditors

1. No Impairment Loss Does Not Mean No Disclosure

Even when an impairment test shows that no loss needs to be recognised, the key assumptions may still need to be explained.

2. Focus on Uncertainty in the Assumptions

When asset values depend heavily on uncertain future factors, disclosure becomes particularly important.

3. Users Need to Understand Valuation Sensitivity

Users of the financial statements should understand how close an asset or CGU is to impairment and which assumptions could change that conclusion.

An impairment test may conclude that no loss is required today, but the assumptions supporting that conclusion may still be material to users of the financial statements.

MFRS 136：披露资产减值测试中的关键假设与不确定性

2025 年 12 月 19 日，**马来西亚会计准则委员会（MASB）**发布了题为 **《财务报表中的不确定性披露》（Disclosures about Uncertainties in the Financial Statements）**的出版物。

该出版物包含六个示例，旨在帮助企业理解应如何在财务报表中披露不确定性。这些示例与**国际会计准则理事会（IASB）**发布的指引保持一致，并展示现有 IFRS 及 MFRS 要求应如何在实务中应用。

虽然许多示例聚焦于气候相关不确定性，但其中所说明的原则同样适用于其他可能影响财务报告的不确定性。

这些示例并没有引入新的会计要求，也没有修订现有准则，而是提供实务指引，帮助企业更清晰及一致地应用现有披露要求。

这些示例没有正式的生效日期。不过，企业应考虑在编制 2025 年 12 月及之后结束的报告期间财务报表时参考相关内容。

MFRS 136 所涉及的核心问题

与 **MFRS 136《资产减值》**有关的示例，主要探讨当企业面对重大不确定性时，应如何披露减值测试中所采用的关键假设。

企业可能对某项资产或现金产生单位（CGU）进行减值测试，并得出以下结论：

• 可收回金额高于账面金额；以及

• 因此无需确认减值损失。

然而，可收回金额的计算通常依赖以下重要假设：

• 未来需求；

• 监管政策变化；

• 大宗商品价格；

• 环境政策；以及

• 向新技术转型。

即使企业没有确认减值损失，这些假设仍可能存在重大不确定性。

因此，核心问题是：

当未来的不确定性显著影响减值测试中所采用的假设时，企业是否应披露这些假设？

根据 MFRS 101 第 125 段，如果相关假设存在导致资产或负债账面金额在下一个财务年度发生重大调整的重大风险，企业就必须披露相关资料。

因此，企业需要考虑的不仅是是否确认减值损失，也包括减值测试所采用的假设是否需要额外披露。

MFRS 136 下的披露要求

根据 MFRS 136 第 134 段，企业必须披露：

• 确定可收回金额时所采用的关键假设；

• 确定这些假设所采用的方法；以及

• 当某项假设发生合理可能的变化，可能导致确认减值损失时，提供敏感性分析。

相关说明性示例进一步说明，当这些假设存在重大不确定性时，企业应如何进行披露。

示例：面对碳排放风险的制造企业

假设一家制造企业产生大量碳排放，并且根据环保法规必须购买碳排放配额。

在对现金产生单位进行减值测试时，管理层可能需要估算：

• 未来碳排放配额的价格；

• 未来排放监管政策；以及

• 未来运营成本。

这些假设会影响用于计算使用价值的未来现金流量。

企业可能在报告日得出结论，认为目前无需确认减值损失。不过，这些假设仍可能对市场情况、监管变化及运营成本高度敏感。

因此，企业可能需要披露：

• 所采用的关键假设，例如预期碳排放配额价格；

• 这些假设的确定方式；

• 相关假设是否与可取得的外部市场资料一致；以及

• 这些假设需要发生多大变化，才会导致确认减值损失。

这些披露有助于使用者了解企业资产价值所面对的不确定性，以及相关资产距离发生减值的程度。

哪些企业可能受到影响？

1. 拥有大量长期资产的企业

这项指引对资本密集型行业特别重要，因为这些企业在估算可收回金额时，高度依赖长期预测，包括：

• 制造业；

• 能源业；

• 采矿业；

• 基础设施业；以及

• 航空业。

2. 财务报表编制人员

财务团队应审慎评估：

• 减值测试中采用的假设是否属于关键假设；

• 外部不确定性是否影响这些假设；以及

• 是否需要提供敏感性披露。

这可能导致企业需要在财务报表附注中提供更详细的解释。

3. 审计师

审计师可能会更加关注：

• 管理层在减值测试中所采用的假设；

• 这些假设是否合理且有充分依据；以及

• 披露是否充分说明相关估计不确定性。

企业应预期，审计过程中对减值测试及相关披露的审查可能更加严格。

4. 投资者及其他财务报表使用者

投资者需要了解：

• 资产价值对关键假设变动的敏感程度；以及

• 哪些未来风险可能导致资产发生减值。

透明的披露有助于使用者评估未来发生减值的可能性，并了解哪些因素可能改变管理层目前的判断。

企业何时应考虑相关指引？

这些示例并没有修订 MFRS 136，因此没有强制性的生效日期。

不过：

• MASB 已于 2025 年 12 月 19 日发布相关指引；以及

• 企业应在编制 2025 年 12 月及之后结束的报告期间财务报表时考虑相关内容。

企业应在合理的时间内，即在“足够时间”内，落实必要的额外披露。一般来说，这通常应在数个月内完成，且通常不应超过一年。

给会计人员及审计师的重点启示

1. 没有确认减值损失，不代表无需披露

即使减值测试显示企业无需确认减值损失，仍可能需要解释所采用的关键假设。

2. 应关注假设中的不确定性

当资产价值高度依赖未来不确定因素时，相关披露尤其重要。

3. 使用者需要理解估值敏感性

财务报表使用者应了解资产或现金产生单位距离发生减值的程度，以及哪些假设可能改变企业目前的判断。

减值测试可能得出目前无需确认减值损失的结论，但支持该结论的假设，对财务报表使用者而言仍可能属于重要信息。