mengesahkan

Mengesahkan is a verb used in Indonesian and Malay that conveys the act of verifying, authenticating, certifying, or ratifying something to confirm its validity, genuineness, or official status. It is commonly applied to documents, signatures, decisions, or statuses that require formal recognition by an authority.

Etymology and forms: The word derives from the root sah, meaning valid or true, with the prefix me- indicating a causative or active action. The related noun pengesahan refers to the act of authentication or validation, while the adjective sah means valid. The opposite concept is often stated with phrases like tidak sah (not valid).

Contexts and usage: Mengesahkan is widely used in legal, administrative, and organizational settings. Examples include authenticating a signature on a contract, validating a birth certificate, or ratifying a government decision. In academic or corporate environments, it can describe the formal confirmation of procedures, standards, or reports by an authorized body.

International and related processes: For cross-border recognition, pengesahan of documents may be followed by further steps such as legalisation or apostille, depending on the destination country’s requirements. These processes ensure that a document flagged as sah in one jurisdiction is accepted as valid elsewhere.

See also: sah (valid), pengesahan (authentication/validation), legalisation, apostille, notary. The term is used across Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in contexts where Malay-language administrative or legal documentation is involved.