Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry is investigating a co-living community for digital nomads founded by former Coinbase chief technology officer Balaji Srinivasan. The probe follows claims that the community, known as The Network School, included Israeli nationals who entered the country on second passports from other nations.
Background
Malaysia is a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause and does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The Immigration Department says that Israeli passport holders are barred from entering Malaysia, although the country does not have laws preventing people with dual citizenship from traveling on non-Israeli passports.
The Network School, founded by Srinivasan in 2024, is described on its website as a frontier community of techno-optimists aimed at turning internet communities into physical startup societies. The community is reportedly located in Forest City, a sprawling $100-billion development on reclaimed land in Malaysia’s Johor state.
Johor Chief Minister Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on authorities to probe allegations by social media users that The Network School hosted Israeli nationals who had entered the country on second passports from other nations. The Home Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the immigration department, police, and related agencies are investigating the claims raised by Onn Hafiz.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
