Malaysia vows to deport Israelis found in digital nomads community

Malaysia vows to deport Israelis found in digital nomads community

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MEE staff
on
Fri, 07/17/2026 - 10:58

Prime minister says authorities are investigating allegations that Israelis joined Network School in state of Johor

Forest City, a development project launched under China's Belt and Road Initiative in Malaysia’s Johor state (AFP)

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The prime minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, has said authorities will deport any Israeli nationals found in the country.  

“If we find any Israeli, we will deport them immediately because we do not recognise Israel,” Anwar said, according to local media reports.

His comments came as officials investigate allegations that Israelis were involved in a private residential and technology community in the southern state of Johor.

On Tuesday, Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs said it was investigating Network School, a community for “digital nomads” founded by former Coinbase chief technology officer and US investor Balaji Srinivasan, after allegations that it included Israelis in violation of immigration laws.

The investigation was ordered after users on social media alleged that some participants in the project were Israeli citizens with dual nationality who had entered Malaysia using passports from other countries.

According to a report in the Malaysian newspaper The Straits Times, the community is located in Forest City, a $100bn development on reclaimed land in Malaysia’s Johor state.

On its website, Network School is described as a “frontier community of techno-optimists” aimed at “turning internet communities into physical start-up societies”.

Prime Minister Anwar said that if the investigations confirmed reports that Israeli nationals participated in Network School, the country would "take action". 

“If it turns out that the claims are true, they will be deported immediately," Anwar said. "All relevant authorities are already conducting an investigation into the matter.” 

The Southeast Asian country, which has a Muslim majority, does not have diplomatic relations with Israel. 

Typically, it bars Israeli passport holders from entering the country without special approval. However, Malaysia does not have laws preventing people with dual citizenship from travelling on non-Israeli passports.

Israeli media outlet Ynet reported that Malaysian authorities had begun checking the identities of foreign nationals linked to the project following the allegations. 

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The chief minister of Johor, Onn Hafiz Ghazi, instructed the home ministry and other agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the project's activities.

"The probe should look into the identities and nationalities of those involved, their travel documents and alleged use of second passports, the types of passes used and the purpose of their entry into Malaysia, as well as whether their actual activities were ­consistent with the reasons for entering the country," local media quoted the chief minister as saying. 

“The state will not allow any parties to use Johor as a base to spread ideologies or movements that are against the law, sovereignty and interests of Johor and Malaysia,” he said.

Malaysian immigration authorities have said they have examined 266 foreign nationals from 40 countries connected to the international community in Forest City and found that all held valid immigration documents.

Since gaining independence from Britain in 1957, the Muslim majority nation has maintained a policy of non-recognition of Israel, and long remained one of the strongest supporters of the Palestinian cause in Southeast Asia. 

Anwar has been a consistent critic of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza and reaffirmed Malaysia's support for Palestinian rights. 

Authorities have not announced whether any Israeli nationals have been identified as part of the ongoing investigation.

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