Johor Probes Forest City Startup Over Alleged Israeli Links
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- Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced on Jul 14 that Johor's state government is investigating Network School after allegations surfaced that Israeli nationals participated in its programme using second passports from other countries
- Network School, launched in 2024 in Forest City by American entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan, brands itself as a "frontier community for techno-optimists" with memberships starting from US$1,500 a month for shared accommodation including meals and co-working facilities
- Israeli passport holders are banned from entering Malaysia without prior permission from the Home Affairs Ministry, as the two countries do not maintain diplomatic ties
- Onn Hafiz has tasked the Home Affairs Ministry, Immigration Department, police, Customs Department and other security agencies with investigating identities, nationalities, purpose of entry, and the alleged use of second passports
- Higher education and digital ministries were asked to determine the "true status" of Network School's operations and whether its programmes require registration or approval under Malaysian law
- State-level agencies including the Iskandar Puteri City Council and Johor Land and Mines Office will re-examine compliance with premises licences, building usage, land conditions, and business activities
- In October 2024, Israeli vlogger Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily) sparked controversy with a video filmed in Johor promoting Network School, which has since been removed
Why it matters: Johor's chief minister has triggered a multi-agency probe spanning federal immigration, police, customs, and state land regulators — a scope that puts Network School, a US$1,500/month community launched by Balaji Srinivasan just a year ago, at significant legal and operational risk. If the investigation confirms undocumented entry or unauthorized programme operations, Forest City becomes the site of a precedent-setting test of Malaysia's Israel entry ban and the state's authority over privately-run 'network state' experiments on Malaysian soil.
