Case #01448650 (malaysia.build) – A Matter of National Sovereignty and International Diplomatic Protocol
Dear GAC Representative (MCMC),
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:
329 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 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 247+ 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:
220+ Days of Silence: The ICANN Board, the “ultimate authority” in the ICANN ecosystem, has been copied on this matter for 220+ 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:
“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.
Circular Blame Game: Namecheap engaged in a pattern of deflection, claiming to be “waiting for upstream providers” while Malaysia’s sovereign interests remained unaddressed.
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.
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.”
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, 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.
12,000+ Witnesses: Over 12,000 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.
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, 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 229 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.
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 12,000 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
Malaysian Citizen
AAG Case Reference: CIC 25-020223
ICANN Compliance Case: #01448650
CC:
ICANN Contractual Compliance – [email protected]
ICANN Ombudsman – [email protected]
ICANN Board of Directors – [email protected]
Namecheap Legal – [email protected]
eNom – [email protected]
.BUILD Registry – [email protected]
John Berryhill (for public record)
NamePros Thread (for transparency)
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.
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