Lessons from the Network School Incident

(Photo credit: The Strait Times)

Incident Summary

In July 2026, the Network School based in Forest City, Johor, was accused of enrolling Israeli students. Allegations of the school enrolling and housing Israelis have been circulating ever since social media influencer, Nas Daily's (real name Nuseir Yassin), featured the school in one of his videos in October 2025. The post has since been deleted. The matter intensified on 10th July 2026 when Instagram user malaysian_protest_4_palestine made an exposé of the school. Malaysian politicians and media outlets followed up, prompting an investigation by local authorities. In its aftermath, 201 of its 430 foreign students left the country with 19 individuals unaccounted for. The school's business license was revoked.

Non-Recognition of Israel

Malaysia does not formally recognise the state of Israel. Hence, none of its citizens are allowed entry into the country. Even entry for transits/air transfers and sporting events are forbidden.

How were Israelis able to enter Malaysia?

Israel allows its citizens to hold multiple citizenships. This exposed a loophole that allowed Israelis to circumvent Malaysian immigrations by entering Malaysia using passports issued by other countries.

The issue

An overwhelming majority of Malaysian are sympathetic towards the plight of the Palestinian people since the Nakba, with much anger and resentment towards Israelis who are seen as oppressors. This makes the presence of Israeli citizens in Malaysia a socio-politically sensitive matter.

Implications

Several themes that can be derived from this incident:

1. Pursuit of international justice

Malaysia's position against the Zionist regime is its sovereign right, especially given Israel's ongoing acts of aggression on the Palestinian people and more recently, against the people of Lebanon. The Malaysian government's standing policy of non-recognition of Israel sends a clear message that international justice must be pursued. It must not bow to international pressure.

2. Not antisemitic, but following the law

The Malaysian government position must also make clear that its non-recognition of the current pro-Zionist Israeli government does not equate as hostility towards the global Jewish community as anti-Semitism has no place in modern society. It must also be acknowledged that there are Israeli citizens and Jewish people who are anti-Zionist and do not condone the actions of their government. Such messaging must be clear to prevent the spread of racism which risks spilling over internally and can threaten Malaysia's stability, and in turn could deter foreign investments.

Penalties against the school operators must not be portrayed as actions against individuals of Jewish heritage or those who work closely with the Jewish community. The public needs to be made aware that the school's license was revoked because the company running it, NSO Malaysia Sdn Bhd, did not have the proper license to operate a school (the license approved was for to operate an administrative office). As such, it must be made clear that the school's license was revoked due to improper documentation.

3. Righting what is wrong: Ensuring the right to education

Remedial options should have been explored able to rectify the situation as many innocent parties were involved. A suspension of the school until proper business licenses are obtain could have been arranged. Should there be a need for penalties to send a message as a means to deter others from taking short-cuts, financial penalties would have sufficed. The Network School had operated for years without scrutiny and would likely have continued had this incident not occur. It is likely that more schools in similar circumstances exists, operating without the correct licenses. It would not be practical nor is it in Malaysia's interest to go on a "witch hunt" to shut down these institutions (unless their activities go against Malaysian law). These schools house sizeable numbers of foreign students who are in Malaysia because their parents are expatriates. As such, the matter must be handled delicately to avoid discouraging foreign investors and expats from living and working in Malaysia. Consideration must be given to other students, parents, teachers, and support staff in an unjust position as classes have been suspended, fees paid, and education activities have been halted. Avenues must be available to allow these operators to come forward, obtain the proper licenses, and operate in accordance with the law.

4. Breach of immigration law is a crime

Illegal entry into the country is forbidden under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. If the school's key individuals are found to have breached Malaysian immigration law, then criminal proceedings must take place (which would be difficult to determine conclusively as any Israelis entering Malaysia would have done so as "non-Israelis", therefore, making the entry legal). However, it would be difficult to hold administrators of the school liable for not knowing of the Israeli presence (unless they did know, ie. did the registrar have scanned copies of Israeli passports?) as Malaysian Immigrations similarly were caught unaware.

Malaysian authorities from the federal, state, and local government level must be commended for its swift action in dealing with the Network School incident. Follow up actions must be undertaken with care to ensure the enforcement of local laws while sending the right message to the international community of Malaysia's position against Zionism which is not the same as being antisemitic. The Malaysian government must safeguard the rights to education, avoid being rigid over technicalities involving the operation of education centres, and provide remedial avenues to rectify non-compliance and regularise their operations.