ASEAN Records responds to claims, forges Thailand and Indonesia partnerships following 250 certifications

19 May 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: ASEAN Records Sdn Bhd (“ASEAN Records”), an independent regional record certification platform, today reaffirmed its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading independent regional certification bodies, recognising measurable and independently verified achievements across the region.

The company has issued more than 250 independent regional record certifications in its first 17 months of operation.

ASEAN Records also confirmed that its first major cross‑border expansion will launch at the end of May 2026, with new partnerships in Thailand and Indonesia covering both ASEAN Records and ASIA Records Sdn Bhd (“ASIA Records”), a separately incorporated Malaysian company operated by the same leadership team as a parallel Asia‑wide independent certification platform.

For use of the name “ASEAN” in its corporate identity and operations, ASEAN Records holds two independent layers of formal approval: regional authorisation from the ASEAN Secretariat (Ref. CCAD/LSAD/UNA/2023/Vol.1/014, dated 1 December 2023, signed by H.E. Tran Duc Binh, Deputy Secretary‑General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs) and national‑level ministerial approval from the Government of Malaysia under Section 27(3) of the Companies Act 2016 (Ref. P/S/2023/A/004396, dated 14 November 2023). Both approvals remain in full force.

Milestones to date

Since its launch on 14 November 2024, ASEAN Records has

issued over 250 independent regional record certifications, including one presented to the Yang di‑Pertua Negeri of Melaka (Head of State of the Malaysian state of Melaka)

convened nine “Gather of Achievers” ceremonies, with more than 1,500 participants in total

hosted record presentation ceremonies attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Cabinet ministers and other senior Malaysian government officials

established a recognised independent regional benchmark for excellence across business, sport, culture, community and social impact.

“Our momentum over the past 17 months speaks for itself. Every certification we issue represents a story of excellence from somewhere in the region, a business breakthrough, a community achievement, a cultural milestone."

" The trust placed in us by record holders, industry leaders and partners is not something we take for granted, and we remain committed to maintaining high standards of independent verification and recognition,” said Gillian Ooi, Managing Director and Chief Adjudicator at ASEAN Records.

Thailand and Indonesia

ASEAN Records and its sister entity ASIA Records, both managed by the same leadership team, will jointly launch new partnerships in Thailand and Indonesia at the end of May 2026, marking the group’s first major cross‑border expansion since inception.

The partnerships will extend the independent certification footprint of both platforms into two of Southeast Asia’s largest markets and will lay the groundwork for further roll‑out across the region in the months ahead.

In parallel, the team is advancing deeper engagement with regional institutions and corporate stakeholders, and is rolling out a refreshed certification framework designed to scale with growing demand for credible, independently verified regional recognition across both platforms.

Several record holders have already been recognised by both ASEAN Records and ASIA Records, reflecting the complementary nature of the two platforms.

The team is also formalising pathways for record holders in sectors aligned with broader regional development themes, including sustainability, innovation, youth achievement and cross‑border enterprise.

“Southeast Asia has a remarkable depth of achievement that deserves to be properly chronicled and celebrated on the regional stage,” added Eldrick Koh, Managing Director and Co‑Chief Adjudicator at ASEAN Records, who also serves as Chief Adjudicator at ASIA Records.

“The Thailand and Indonesia partnerships are an important next step for both ASEAN Records and ASIA Records. Our role is to give regional excellence a credible, independent platform, and we are only just getting started.”

ASEAN Records is aware of a series of unverified claims circulated by third parties in early May 2026. The company has obtained written confirmations from the relevant authorities, including the Registrar of Societies Malaysia and the ASEAN Secretariat, that comprehensively address those claims.

A detailed statement was issued on 16 May 2026 and remains available through the company’s official channels for any party wishing to review the underlying documentation.

Police reports have been filed and the matter is under formal investigation.

“We remain focused on what we are here to do, recognising excellence, supporting record holders, and building credible independent regional and Asia‑wide records platforms,” Gillian added.

“The facts have been documented, the appropriate authorities have been engaged, and we are moving forward. To every record holder, partner and supporter who has stood with us across both ASEAN Records and ASIA Records, the integrity of our certifications and the recognition of your achievements remain fully intact within our independent certification framework, and our work continues.”

ASEAN Records issues records as an independent regional certification platform, not as an organ, agency or representative of the ASEAN Secretariat.

This position has been consistently stated in all company materials, ceremonies and communications since launch.

This statement is made on the basis of documents in the company’s possession and on written confirmations received from the relevant authorities, and without prejudice to such legal action as ASEAN Records may be advised to take. ASEAN Records Sdn Bhd reserves all its rights at law.