Case #01448650 (malaysia.build) – A Matter of National Sovereignty and International Diplomatic Protocol
Dear GAC Representative (MCMC),
Let it be clearly understood by all parties CC’ed: this is no longer a localized domain loss dispute. This has evolved into a systemic breach of International Diplomatic Protocol and a direct challenge to Malaysian National Sovereignty.
The handling of Case #01448650 represents a catastrophic failure that endangers and severely compromises global consumer confidence regarding United States-based digital infrastructure. This absolute breakdown in service and accountability signals to the international community that sovereign assets are no longer secure under current US-based governance. This institutional decay constitutes a reputational liability that extends beyond the domain industry, casting a shadow of risk over the integrity of all US digital services and exports.
As of the moment I am drafting this formal request, the forensic audit of this case on NamePros.com has reached nearly 12,100+ views, providing empirical proof that the global internet community is now watching this violation of Malaysian sovereignty with unprecedented scrutiny.
I am a Malaysian citizen (WONG TAI CHIEW) writing to you regarding a matter that has transcended a simple domain dispute and now sits at
THE INTERSECTION OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC PROTOCOL AND MALAYSIAN NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY.
The case of malaysia.build (ICANN Case #01448650) is no longer just about a lost digital asset. It is about how a US-headquartered entity (ICANN) and its contracted parties have treated a sovereign nation’s name—”Malaysia”—with profound disrespect, disregard, and procedural contempt.
I am formally requesting that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), as Malaysia’s representative in the ICANN Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC), raise this matter at the upcoming ICANN85 Summit in Mumbai (March 7–12, 2026).
Below, I outline how each party involved has not only failed me as a citizen but has actively violated the sovereignty and dignity of Malaysia through their actions and inactions.
- ICANN Contractual Compliance: The Sovereign Insult
MCMC’s Official Position (Dec 5, 2025):
“Pursuant to Specification 5 of the ICANN New gTLD Registry Agreement, the term ‘Malaysia’ is designated as a reserved country and territory name… The Commission confirms that no written non-objection or approval was ever issued for the registration or use of the domain name ‘malaysia.build’. Accordingly, the domain name should not have been registered in the first instance.”
The Violation:
337 days elapsed without a substantial response, followed by total silence. Ombudsman blocked by procedural catch-22. Response only after external pressure. Final deadline met with total institutional silence.
Contradictory Position: ICANN claims it has “no authority to instruct” deletions,
yet the .BUILD Registry CEO stated they were “requested by ICANN” to remove the domain. This contradiction remains unresolved.
Disrespect to Malaysian Policy: ICANN Compliance has ignored MCMC’s official clarification, treating Malaysia’s sovereign policy position as irrelevant to their internal processes.
The “Multi-Stakeholder Silence Audit” provided in the link below proves that ICANN has NO defense for its actions. This sustained silence is NOT merely a delay; it is a documented admission of administrative failure. For a global regulator to ignore 12,100+ industry witnesses is a signal of narrative bankruptcy and a direct confirmation that Malaysia’s sovereign policy position is being treated with intentional disregard.
The Result: A US-based regulator has effectively told Malaysia: “Your policy on your own country’s name is not our concern.”
See https://loss.co/responses/#icann
- ICANN Ombudsman: Impotence in the Face of Sovereignty
MCMC’s Official Position:
“The use or registration of such names requires prior written non-objection from the relevant government authority.”
The Violation:
Catch-22 Paralysis: The Ombudsman cannot investigate until Compliance concludes. Compliance will not conclude. This structural trap has left Malaysia’s sovereign concerns in limbo for 255+ days.
Institutional Impotence: The “Objective Advocate for Fairness” has proven powerless to address a case involving a sovereign nation’s name. This demonstrates that ICANN’s internal mechanisms are structurally incapable of handling matters of national dignity.
Silence as Acquiescence: By remaining silent, the Ombudsman has implicitly accepted that a sovereign nation’s concerns can be indefinitely delayed without recourse.
The Result: Malaysia’s official policy position has been trapped in a procedural dead end designed to exhaust complainants, not resolve disputes.
See https://loss.co/responses/#ombuds
- ICANN Board: Willful Blindness at the Highest Level
MCMC’s Official Position:
“The term ‘Malaysia’ is also designated as a Reserved Names under the Country/State Names category in the NEAP, which prohibits its registration without proper authorisation.”
The Violation:
228+ Days of Silence: The ICANN Board, the “ultimate authority” in the ICANN ecosystem, has been copied on this matter for 228+ days. They have issued zero response.
Diplomatic Indifference: The Board presides over an organization that has failed to address a sovereign nation’s official policy position. Their silence is not neutrality—it is willful blindness.
Mumbai Summit Hypocrisy: While Board members deliver speeches about “multi-stakeholder governance” and “accountability” at ICANN85, they are presiding over a system that has ignored Malaysia’s official position for over four months.
The Result: The highest authority in global internet governance has demonstrated that sovereign nations’ policy positions are irrelevant unless accompanied by political pressure.
See https://loss.co/responses/#board
- Namecheap, eNom, and the .BUILD Registry: Commercial Actors Violating Sovereign Protocol
MCMC’s Official Position:
“No written non-objection or approval was ever issued for the registration or use of the domain name ‘malaysia.build’.”
The Violation by Namecheap:
a)
For 367 days, I have been seeking a resolution after my domain malaysia.build was removed from my Namecheap account without an EPP (authorization) code, without prior notice, and without an explanation.
On July 14, 2025, at 3:20 PM, Namecheap confirmed in writing:
“Was an EPP code issued or used? No, according to our logs, the EPP code was not requested.”
To date: Total time of zero resolution.
This point is not disputed by Namecheap.
This security failure occurred, and remains unresolved, during the same period in which Namecheap has publicly reported pursuing a proposed acquisition by CVC Capital Partners valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
Why This Matters to the Entire Industry
The EPP (Auth-Info) code is the foundational security mechanism of domain ownership.
It exists to prevent unauthorized loss of control — whether by transfer, deletion, or registry reclaim.
Under ICANN’s framework:
- RAA §3.2 obligates registrars to comply with all ICANN policies
- The Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP) §I.A.6.1 establishes the Auth-Info code as the mandatory mechanism that protects registrant control
Links:
- RAA §3.2:
https://www.icann.org/en/contracted…rar-accreditation-agreement-17-09-2013-en#3.2 - IRTP §I.A.6.1:
https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/transfer-policy-2016-06-01-en#I.A.6.1
If a registrar can remove a domain without issuing or using an EPP code and without notifying the registrant, then the EPP code ceases to be a security guarantee.
It becomes optional.
That has implications for every portfolio represented here.
Regardless of registry involvement, the registrar of record remains responsible for registrant-facing authorization and notice obligations under the RAA.
At no point in the RAA or IRTP is there a provision stating that registrant authorization safeguards are suspended, waived, or made optional due to a registrar or registry “mistake.”
b)
“Enom Registry” Fiction: For months, Namecheap directed me to a non-existent “Enom Registry,” wasting time and demonstrating that a $1.5 billion company CANNOT correctly identify the parties responsible for a domain containing a sovereign nation’s name.
c)
Circular Blame Game: Namecheap engaged in a pattern of deflection, claiming to be “waiting for upstream providers” while Malaysia’s sovereign interests remained unaddressed.
See https://loss.co/responses/#namecheap
d)
Legal Department Denial: Namecheap’s legal team prematurely closed the case TWICE, severing communication without ever addressing the sovereign implications of the “Malaysia” name.
The Violation by eNom:
Total Communication Blackout: After one helpful email, eNom ceased all communication, leaving Malaysia’s sovereign concerns unanswered.
See https://loss.co/responses/#enom
The Violation by .BUILD Registry:
Absolute Silence: The .BUILD Registry has NEVER responded to a single inquiry about why a domain containing “Malaysia” was deleted following what they described as an “ICANN request.”
See https://loss.co/responses/#build
The Result: Commercial actors have treated Malaysia’s sovereign name as a routine business transaction, with zero regard for the diplomatic protocols that should govern its use.
- The Cumulative Effect: A Sovereign Nation Disrespected
MCMC’s Official Position:
“The Commission confirms that no written non-objection or approval was ever issued… Accordingly, the domain name should not have been registered in the first instance.”
The Overall Violation:
Systemic Disrespect: Every single accountability mechanism—Compliance, Ombudsman, Board, Registrar (Namecheap, eNom), Registry (the .build Registry)—has failed to address the core sovereign issue: a domain containing “Malaysia” was handled without Malaysia’s consent, and Malaysia’s official position has been ignored.
12,100+ Witnesses: Over 12,100 industry professionals have now witnessed this systemic failure. Malaysia’s sovereign concerns are no longer a private matter—they are a public exhibit in the case against ICANN’s accountability.
Precedent for Future Sovereign Names: If “Malaysia” can be treated this way, every nation’s name in every new gTLD is vulnerable to the same procedural disregard.
- The Urgency: ICANN85 Mumbai (March 7–12, 2026)
The ICANN85 Summit in Mumbai presents a critical opportunity for Malaysia to assert its sovereign interests on the global stage.
What is at stake:
The “malaysia.build” domain was intended to host a ready-to-launch real estate listing platform supporting the MM2H (Malaysia My Second Home) program. This is not an abandoned domain—it represents tangible economic potential for Malaysia.
See https://loss.co/the-project/
The deletion of this domain without Malaysia’s consent has delayed a platform that could have promoted Malaysian real estate and investment opportunities to international audiences.
The treatment of this case sets a precedent for how all country-name domains will be handled in the future.
The Ask:
I respectfully urge MCMC, as Malaysia’s GAC representative, appointed and displayed at https://gac.icann.org/about/gac-members
to:
- Raise Case #01448650 during the appropriate GAC sessions at ICANN85 Mumbai.
- Ask ICANN directly: “Why has Malaysia’s official policy position on the use of ‘Malaysia’ in second-level domains been ignored for over 337 days?”
- Demand an explanation for why the .BUILD Registry CEO’s statement—“requested by ICANN”—contradicts ICANN’s public position.
- Seek a commitment that no domain containing a sovereign nation’s name will be deleted in the future without prior notification to and consultation with the relevant government.
I respectfully request acknowledgment of this letter within 72 hours, given the urgency of ICANN85.
The Meaning of Silence
To Namecheap, eNom, the .build Registry, ICANN (Contractual Compliance, Ombudsman and Board):
Your collective silence in the face of this formal request speaks volumes.
After 367+ days (first complaint at Namecheap dated Jun 11, 2025) of documented inaction, after 12,100+ witnesses, after MCMC’s own official clarification — if the response from ICANN, Namecheap, eNom, .BUILD, and every other party named remains nothing, then that nothing is itself an answer.
No response is a response.
It is an admission that every statement in this letter is true.
It is an acknowledgment that you have no defense, no explanation, and no respect for the sovereignty of Malaysia.
Silence, at this stage, is not neutrality.
Conclusion
This is no longer about one citizen’s domain. It is about whether a sovereign nation’s official policy position means anything to the global internet governance system.
MCMC has already provided clear, professional clarification. Now, I ask that you ensure that clarification is heard, respected, and acted upon at the highest levels of ICANN.
I have documented this entire case publicly, with over 12,100 witnesses. The world is watching. I respectfully request that Malaysia be seen—and heard—on the global stage.
Thank you for your time and for your service to the nation.
Regards,
Wong Tai Chiew
Feb 27, 2026
Malaysian Citizen
Namecheap Ticket ID: NC-UWS-6390
ICANN Compliance Case; #01448650
External engagement includes:
- California Attorney General — Consumer complaint filed
- National Economic Council (White House) — Governance briefing submitted
- eConsumer.gov (ICPEN) — International case logged
- Federal Trade Commission — Report #195289817
- Arizona Attorney General — CIC# 25-020223
- Better Business Bureau — Case #24334069 (closed Jan 13, 2026 after unanswered outreach to Namecheap)
P.S.
For a comprehensive, step-by-step forensic archive of all communications, official government responses, and documented institutional failures related to this case, please visit: https://loss.co.
This formal request has been copied to the following parties for full transparency and to ensure no further claims of ignorance can be made regarding Malaysia’s official position:
ICANN Contractual Compliance – the department responsible for the 231-day silence
ICANN Ombudsman – the “independent advocate” rendered powerless by their own Catch-22
ICANN Board of Directors – the ultimate authority, now 122+ days into their silence
All Individual ICANN Board Members – so no director can later claim they were unaware
GAC Support – the secretariat supporting your own representation
ICANN Meeting Support – because this matter is now directly relevant to ICANN85 Mumbai
Namecheap Leadership – including CEO, Legal, PR, Security, and Abuse teams
CVC Capital Partners – the investors behind Namecheap’s proposed $1.5B acquisition
U.S. Department of Commerce – as the matter involves a US-headquartered entity’s treatment of a sovereign nation’s name
eNom – the upstream provider who fell silent after one email
.BUILD Registry – the registry whose CEO stated they were “requested by ICANN” to delete the domain
All parties now have this documentation. All parties now know Malaysia is watching.
The world is watching.
The evidence is cataloged here. The structural solution is THE WONG CLAUSE, and it is being institutionalized.
Disclaimer: This website reflects the author’s personal account and opinions regarding the loss of access to the domain *malaysia.build*. The information presented is based on direct experience, contemporaneous records, and a good-faith belief in its accuracy at the time of publication. Mentions of companies, registrars, registries, or other organizations are included only to factually describe events and circumstances relevant to this case. These references are provided solely to factually describe documented events and communications. They should not be read as allegations of misconduct, negligence, or liability of any individual, company, or organization. The content is provided solely for informational and documentary purposes. It does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice, and should not be relied upon as a definitive statement of fact or legal conclusion.
Corrections Policy: If any party believes that information contained on this website is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading, they are invited to contact the author at [email protected]. All requests will be reviewed promptly and in good faith. Verified corrections, clarifications, or updates will be published transparently.
Right of Reply: Any registrar, registry, upstream provider, or organization referenced in this website is welcome to submit a written response. Such responses will be published in full, unedited, to ensure fairness and balance.
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