Malaysian authorities order closure of Balaji Srinivasan's Network School project

Malaysia’s government has ordered the termination of the Network School, a community created by entrepreneur Balaji Srinivasan that combined elements of a tech incubator with a personal-development retreat. The initiative, located in an unused hotel, promoted itself as a frontier space for techno-optimists and a first step toward a broader vision of a new societal model. Attendees reported substandard conditions, including mold-infested rooms and a scarcity of female participants and nightlife.

Authorities said the shutdown was required due to failures to obtain proper licensing. In response, Srinivasan, who gave up his American citizenship in 2023 and now calls himself a proud Singaporean, accused the reporting outlet of producing a “hit piece.” He also revealed a new agreement to establish a similar campus in Kazakhstan.