Malaysia says startup residents in Johor\u2019s Forest City have valid\ntravel papers, amid alleged Israeli links<\/p>\n
Malaysia\u2019s Immigration Department said it had inspected 266\nforeigners from 40 countries and found they had valid documents, though\nfurther checks were ongoing to ensure compliance with all other entry\nrequirements and related laws.<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia\u2019s Immigration Department said on Wednesday\n(Jul 15) that members of a \u201cdigital nomad\u201d community run by US investor\nBalaji Srinivasan had valid travel documents, a day after authorities\nannounced a probe into claims that Israelis were among them in violation\nof local laws.<\/p>\n
The investigation came after some social media users alleged that the\nNetwork School, founded by the former Coinbase chief technology officer\nin 2024, included participants from Israel who had entered Malaysia with\npassports of other countries.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, bars entry of\nIsraeli passport holders as the countries do not have diplomatic\nrelations. However, it does not have specific laws barring Israelis from\ntravelling on second-country passports.<\/p>\n
The immigration department said it had inspected 266 foreigners from\n40 countries and found they had valid documents, though further checks\nwere ongoing to ensure compliance with all other entry requirements and\nrelated laws.<\/p>\n
\u201c(The department) will conduct further investigations into any\nmatters that raise suspicions or if there is new information regarding\nmisuse of identity, travel documents, immigration facilities or\nviolations of permit conditions,\u201d its Director-General Zakaria Shaaban\nsaid in a statement.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister of Johor Onn Hafiz Ghazi called on\nthe authorities to conduct a probe into Network School\u2019s operations,\nadding that he had asked the ministry, Immigration Department, police,\nCustoms Department and other relevant security agencies to investigate\nthe identities and nationalities of those involved with the Network\nSchool.<\/p>\n
This also included investigations into their purpose of entry into\nMalaysia and whether the reason for entry was consistent with the\nactivities being carried out.<\/p>\n
According to a description on Network School\u2019s website, it is a\n\u201cfrontier community of techno-optimists\u201d aimed at \u201cturning internet\ncommunities into physical startup societies\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Network School is described on its website as a \u201cfrontier\ncommunity of techno-optimists\u201d aimed at \u201cturning internet communities\ninto physical startup societies\u201d.<\/p>\n
Srinivasan has said the community was based \u201cnear Singapore\u201d but\nauthorities confirmed on Wednesday it is located in Forest City, a\nsprawling US$100-billion development on reclaimed land in Malaysia\u2019s\nJohor state.<\/p>\n
In October last year, Israeli vlogger Nuseir Yassin, also known as\nNas Daily, sparked controversy after appearing in a video filmed in\nJohor promoting Network School, local news outlet the New Straits Times\nreported.<\/p>\n
The video, which featured Johor landmarks and views of Singapore, has\nsince been removed.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/malaysia-says-startup-residents-in-johors-forest-city-have-valid-travel-papers-amid-alleged-israeli-links-1784119817", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }