This study discusses the shale gas potential of Carboniferous Belata black shales within Peninsular Malaysia. Organic geochemical analyses of the shales show a good hydrocarbon source with total organic carbon (TOC) content ranging from 1.90 wt. to 4.05 wt. . TOC versus S2 plot shows that the derived dominant kerogen in the Belata black shale samples is of Type IV; gas prone. Recorded low hydrogen index value ranges between 0 and 0.38 (mgHC/gTOC) and the vitrinite reflectance analyses revealed that the shales are generally overmatured with a mean Ro of 3.85 as supported by the burial history models. Although these shales are located away from the granitic intrusion, the regional metamorphism caused by the regional orogenesis and subduction of the Peninsular has affected and could be the cause of the shale over maturity. The findings suggest a minimal potential for working petroleum system in onshore Peninsular Malaysia within the studied stratigraphic intervals. © 2019 Elsevier B.V.