Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday that any Israeli national found in the country would be deported immediately as authorities investigate allegations that an Israeli was involved in the operations of a private residential community in the southern state of Johor.
Anwar said the relevant authorities were investigating the claims and that the government would not compromise if they were found to be true, the English-language daily Free Malaysia Today reported.
"If we find any Israeli, we will deport them immediately because we do not recognise Israel," he said.
Malaysia does not recognise Israel
Israeli passport holders are generally prohibited from entering Malaysia without special government approval because the country does not recognise Israel.
The Home Ministry launched an investigation after the Johor state government called for a federal probe into allegations involving Network School, a startup community based in Johor.
Separately, the Immigration Department said all 266 foreigners inspected at an international community in Forest City had valid immigration documents.
Forest City is a large mixed-use development built on artificial islands in Johor near the Singapore border. Marketed as an international residential hub, it has attracted a sizeable foreign community and has periodically come under scrutiny over immigration and regulatory issues.
