Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced that any Israeli national found in the country will be deported immediately. This firm stance follows ongoing investigations into allegations that Israeli citizens may have entered Malaysia using dual-citizenship documents to participate in a private residential program in Johor. Malaysia does not maintain diplomatic ties with Israel and generally prohibits Israeli passport holders from entering the country without special government approval.
The controversy centers on the "Network School," a private co-living and co-working community located in Forest City, Johor. The project, founded by former Coinbase executive Balaji Srinivasan, recently drew public scrutiny after promotional materials described it as a "frontier community for techno-optimists." Following online backlash and concerns raised by the Johor state government, federal authorities launched a probe into the facility’s operations and the citizenship status of its participants.
Prime Minister Anwar emphasized that the government will not compromise on its foreign policy or national security. He noted that all relevant security agencies are currently conducting a thorough investigation to verify the claims. While the Immigration Department reported that 266 foreigners inspected at the site held valid travel documents, the government remains committed to taking action if any Israeli nationals are confirmed to be present.
Authorities are now working to determine if individuals bypassed entry restrictions by using passports from other countries. The Higher Education Ministry and other relevant agencies are expected to provide further clarifications as the investigation proceeds. For now, the government’s message remains clear: any breach of Malaysia’s long-standing policy regarding Israel will be met with immediate deportation.