The US State Department has summoned Malaysia’s ambassador in Washington to clarify Kuala Lumpur’s stance on Israel. This diplomatic friction follows Malaysia’s recent expulsion of a dual US-Israeli citizen and a crackdown on an international tech community.
According to Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan, Ambassador Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob reiterated to Washington that Malaysia's refusal to recognize Israel remains unchanged.
"Our immigration policy does not recognize the State of Israel or the Zionist regime," Hasan stated. He confirmed that a traveler who entered Malaysia using a US passport was later discovered to hold Israeli citizenship and was consequently ordered to leave.
The wider controversy centers around "Network School" a digital nomad community in Johor's Forest City established by a US investor. Malaysia's Home Ministry launched an investigation after social media posts alleged the project hosted dual Israeli citizens who bypassed immigration rules by using alternate passports.
Following the backlash Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim declared a zero-tolerance policy vowing immediate deportation for any Israeli national found inside the country. Malaysia, a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause has never maintained diplomatic ties with Israel and explicitly bans Israeli passport holders. The incident has prompted a swift response from US lawmakers, who are urging the State Department to review security and economic ties with Malaysia if the deportation policy persists.
