Network School founder signs Kazakhstan MOU after Johor shuts Forest City campus

Sunday 20 Sep 2026

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KUALA LUMPUR (July 22): Balaji Srinivasan, a US tech investor and the founder of the controversial Network School in Forest City, Johor, announced on X that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Network School to establish a new campus with expedited visas, streamlined redomiciliation and active recruitment of talent.

The announcement comes after the Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) revoked the business licence of Network School operator NSO Malaysia Sdn Bhd on Tuesday, July 21, and ordered all activities at its Forest City premises to cease from Wednesday, citing breaches of licensing conditions and the unauthorised use of its premises.

Srinivasan has not commented on the closure of the school's operations in Johor since the announcement. His last post on X, published on July 18, dismissed reports that the school was being shut down as "fake news", after authorities raided his start-up campus over claims it was hosting foreigners, including Israelis illegally.

Then he explained that the company had received two notices. The first required it to change the wording on a signboard. The second stated that while its co-working space spans two adjoining units, only the left unit has a valid licence. The company said it had been given time to rectify both issues and would do so soon. It added that the notices did not affect its members.

Harian Metro reported that local authorities seized and closed the premises on Wednesday.

In a statement, the MBIP said the enforcement action followed inspections and compliance audits conducted at the company's two premises on July 12, 14, 19 and 20.

The council said it had issued a notice ordering the company to cease operations, revoked its business licence for conducting activities beyond those permitted under the licence, and cancelled its advertising licence because the signboard displayed at the premises did not match the approved licence details.

Following the MBIP's action, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi urged other authorities to take action against the company. On the same day, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) announced it is revoking NSO Malaysia's Malaysia Digital status.

Edited ByPresenna Nambiar

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