(Kuala Lumpur, 13th) ASEAN Record Sdn Bhd emphasized that the company is authorized by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Malaysian government to use “Asean” as its company name and to operate as an independent record certification platform.
The company’s two executive directors and chief forensic officers, Koo Chun-ming and Wong Tzu-ning, held a press conference today through Kepong DAP Youth Chief Cheah Chee-wei to clarify the allegations made against the company recently.
Huang Zining said that the company holds formal written approval from the ASEAN Secretariat to use the name “ASEAN”, document number CCAD/LSAD/UNA/2023/Vol.1/014, dated December 1, 2023, and signed by ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Community and Home Affairs, Chen Deping. The approval letter has been formally countersigned and is still in effect.
She pointed out that the company also obtained Ministerial Approval under Section 27(3) of the Companies Act 2016, which allows it to use the gazetted word “ASEAN” in its company name. The relevant reference document number is P/S/2023/A/004396, dated November 14, 2023.
She emphasized that the company has never made any false statements, and since it was authorized by the ASEAN Secretariat in December 2023 to use “ASEAN” as its corporate identity and operate as a record certification platform, the company has been operating within the scope of the approval and has not received any notification of revocation, termination or modification of the approval.
“We respect the status of the ASEAN Secretariat as a regional intergovernmental body, while we are a commercial entity authorized to operate under the name ‘ASEAN’ and have never made any statements beyond that scope.”
She said that in order to protect the company’s reputation, record holders, and legitimate rights and interests in using the name “ASEAN,” the company will initiate necessary legal action.
“We saw the allegations on Sunday and filed a police report two days ago.”
Also present were members of the company’s legal team, including Dato’ Chang Yu Xiang, Wong Yuen Xuan, Wan Mohd Asong, and Datin Wen Qiao He.
Independent regional record certification platform
Gu Junming said that ASEAN Records Ltd. issues records as an independent regional record certification platform, not as an institution, organization or representative of the ASEAN Secretariat.
“This statement has remained consistent and unchanged in all our promotional materials, award ceremonies, and external communications since our inception.”
He pointed out that the company is an independent platform authorized to use the name “ASEAN” and has a proven track record of outstanding achievements at the ASEAN regional level.
He emphasized that the record was never claimed to have been issued directly by the ASEAN Secretariat.
“ASEAN Records is a limited company legally established in our country. It operates as a paid certification platform, which is consistent with mature certification industry practices globally and regionally. Similar to other internationally recognized certification bodies, it conducts commercial operations while maintaining credibility.”
He said the company operates under a dual-approval system, demonstrating its legal and transparent operating foundation.
He pointed out that the recent accusations against the company were untrue.
“Our company holds the necessary approvals and supporting documentation to demonstrate our legal status and operation under the name ASEAN. These documents will be presented in due course after legal proceedings are initiated against the relevant responsible parties.”
He said that since its official launch on November 14, 2024, the company has awarded more than 250 ASEAN-level record certifications, held 9 award ceremonies with a total attendance of more than 1,500 people, and had senior government officials as record witnesses, including the Deputy Prime Minister, ministers, the Governor of Malacca and other senior officials, and has received hundreds of reports from mainstream media.
