Malaysia says startup residents in Johor’s Forest City have valid travel papers, amid alleged Israeli links
Malaysia’s Immigration Department said it had inspected 266 foreigners from 40 countries and found they had valid documents, though further checks were ongoing to ensure compliance with all other entry requirements and related laws.
The Network School is a private residential community in Johor’s Forest City founded by former Coinbase Chief Technology Officer and investor Balaji Srinivasan, which is under investigation by Malaysian authorities for alleged Israeli ties. (Image: YouTube/Network School)
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s Immigration Department said on Wednesday (Jul 15) that members of a “digital nomad” community run by US investor Balaji Srinivasan had valid travel documents, a day after authorities announced a probe into claims that Israelis were among them in violation of local laws.
The investigation came after some social media users alleged that the Network School, founded by the former Coinbase chief technology officer in 2024, included participants from Israel who had entered Malaysia with passports of other countries.
Malaysia, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, bars entry of Israeli passport holders as the countries do not have diplomatic relations. However, it does not have specific laws barring Israelis from travelling on second-country passports.
The immigration department said it had inspected 266 foreigners from 40 countries and found they had valid documents, though further checks were ongoing to ensure compliance with all other entry requirements and related laws.
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“(The department) will conduct further investigations into any matters that raise suspicions or if there is new information regarding misuse of identity, travel documents, immigration facilities or violations of permit conditions,” its Director-General Zakaria Shaaban said in a statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister of Johor Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on the authorities to conduct a probe into Network School’s operations, adding that he had asked the ministry, Immigration Department, police, Customs Department and other relevant security agencies to investigate the identities and nationalities of those involved with the Network School.
This also included investigations into their purpose of entry into Malaysia and whether the reason for entry was consistent with the activities being carried out.
According to a description on Network School’s website, it is a “frontier community of techno-optimists” aimed at “turning internet communities into physical startup societies”.
The Network School is described on its website as a “frontier community of techno-optimists” aimed at “turning internet communities into physical startup societies”.
Srinivasan has said the community was based “near Singapore” but authorities confirmed on Wednesday it is located in Forest City, a sprawling US$100-billion development on reclaimed land in Malaysia’s Johor state.
In October last year, Israeli vlogger Nuseir Yassin, also known as Nas Daily, sparked controversy after appearing in a video filmed in Johor promoting Network School, local news outlet the New Straits Times reported.
The video, which featured Johor landmarks and views of Singapore, has since been removed.
Source: Reuters/rk
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