Forest City School Probe
Johor Government Initiates Extensive Probe into Forest City's Network School Over Passport Use
Anonymous
Key Points
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Iskandar Puteri's local authorities, specifically the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) and the Johor Land and Mines Office, will conduct detailed assessments of Network School's premises licensing, building-use conditions and land regulations as part of the probe.
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Network School was launched in 2024 by tech investor Balaji Srinivasan, and is described as a residential tech community for entrepreneurs and remote workers; Srinivasan is identified as a former Coinbase chief technology officer.
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Federal regulators will assess whether Network School’s operations require registration or regulatory approval, with the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Digital involved in verifying the program’s status and compliance under Malaysian law.
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Balaji Srinivasan is described as a tech investor and former Coinbase CTO, underscoring the high-profile backing behind Network School and its positioning as part of a broader concept of building online communities with a physical presence.
Johor's state government has ordered a full investigation into Network School, a tech co-living community inside Forest City, after allegations emerged that Israeli nationals entered Malaysia using secondary passports to join its programs, according to Malay Mail. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi called for the probe, warning that Johor will not be used as a platform for any group that breaks Malaysian law or threatens national sovereignty.
Network School was launched in 2024 by Balaji Srinivasan, a tech investor and former chief technology officer at Coinbase. It bills itself as a private residential and co-working community for entrepreneurs and remote workers, based in Iskandar Puteri's Forest City development.
Israeli Nationals Allegedly Used Second Passports to Enter
The core allegation is that Israeli citizens used passports from other countries to get into Malaysia and take part in Network School programs, according to Head Topics Malaysia. Malaysia does not recognize Israel and bars Israeli passport holders from entering the country. Using a second passport to bypass that ban would breach Malaysian immigration law.
Investigators will check the travel documents and immigration passes used by participants. They will also verify whether each person's stated reason for entering Malaysia matched what they actually did once inside, Head Topics Singapore reported. Authorities want to know if any participant misrepresented their nationality or purpose of visit.
Five Ministries and Local Councils Joining the Investigation
The probe spans both state and federal agencies. The Home Affairs, Immigration, Police, and Customs ministries are all involved. So are the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Digital, according to Malay Mail. Each will assess whether Network School needs regulatory approval or formal registration under Malaysian law.
At the local level, the Iskandar Puteri City Council, known as MBIP, and the Johor Land and Mines Office will inspect the premises. They will check whether Network School holds the correct licenses, meets building-use conditions, and follows land regulations, Head Topics Malaysia reported.
What Network School Is and Who Is Behind It
Balaji Srinivasan founded Network School in 2024. He is best known as the former CTO of Coinbase, the major US cryptocurrency exchange. His concept is to build online communities that also have a physical home — a place where members live and work together in one location.
Forest City, where the school is based, is a large mixed-use development in Iskandar Puteri, right on the southern tip of Malaysia near Singapore. The development has struggled to attract residents in recent years and has actively courted international tech tenants and remote workers to fill its buildings.
Johor Warns of Firm Action If Laws Were Broken
Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi made the state's position clear. He said Johor will not allow any party to use the state as a base for ideologies or movements that go against Malaysian law or sovereignty, according to Malay Mail. Security agencies have been urged to take firm action if violations are confirmed.
Officials have not yet named specific individuals or confirmed how many Israeli nationals may have been involved. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities promised thorough checks and said appropriate action will follow if any breach of law is found.
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