Network School Arrival Guide (2026)

Are you heading to Network School (NS), the frontier startup society in Forest City, for the first time?

NS will provide many services and communications to help new members arrive at Forest City. This is a supplementary guide to give prospective members an idea of entry requirements, and further help reduce friction to make your arrival a stress-free one.

Learn how to clear Malaysian and Singaporean immigration efficiently, setup connectivity to coordinate with NS and your cohort, how to use local services near NS, and more.

Visa & Arrival Preparation

Many nationalities can enter Malaysia visa-free for short stays. Always verify current requirements for your passport with the Immigration Department of Malaysia (official government source) or your local Malaysian embassy or consulate.
You must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) within 3 days before arrival into Malaysia, including your arrival day.
If you will arrive in Singapore and cross over into Malaysia by land, you will also have to complete the Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) within 3 days before arrival in Singapore, including your arrival day.
Make sure your passport won't expire for at least 6 months after entry.
If your NS onboarding includes a local SIM card, you will still need connectivity before you receive it. A short data-only eSIM is usually the simplest bridge.

Arriving in Singapore (SIN) or Senai Airport (JHB)

Forest City sits in southern Johor, Malaysia, giving you two airport options.
- Singapore Changi (SIN) offers better international connections and often cheaper flights. But requires going through Singapore immigration and crossing the Malaysia-Singapore border.
- Senai Airport (JHB) is closer and avoids border crossing inefficiencies. But has fewer international flights.
NS may provide transportation guidance for official arrival windows.
- Outside those windows, you will have to make travel arrangements on your own. Common options include the FC1 bus through Causeway Link or hiring a private driver.
If you are arriving in JHB, use Grab to ride a taxi from there to Forest City directly.

Connectivity Before Network School

If NS provides a local SIM card, avoid purchasing your own for an extended period.
Instead, purchase a data-only eSIM online that will last 1-3 days, enabling communication or Grab use if needed.
If you are arriving in Singapore, consider buying an eSIM that covers both Malaysia and Singapore.

How to Pay in Malaysia

Cash & ATMs in Forest City

Besides a few chains, most stores and services in Forest City are small shops that will not accept foreign credit cards.
There are a few ATMs in the NS area if you need cash. Confirm any local withdrawal fee on the ATM screen before proceeding.
- Maybank ATMs: insert your card before interacting with the screen, otherwise you will only see services specific to Maybank customers.

Credit Cards

Visa and Mastercard are accepted in all places that accept credit cards, but American Express support is limited.
Most stores that accept credit cards will have modern terminals that can accept contactless payment, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Many stores can split a bill, but confirm before ordering if this matters for your group.

Power in Malaysia

Plug type: Type G.
Voltage: 240V, frequency 50 Hz.
Some rooms and shared spaces may have power bars that accept other plug types, but you should bring a Type G adapter.
Most modern chargers handle 100–240 V automatically. You just need the right plug adapter when necessary. Use a resource like World of Sockets for more info.

Shopping

If NS supplies you with a SIM card that has a local phone number, it can make local shopping services like Lazada and Shopee easier to use.
You may still find issues with either platform not supporting specific foreign credit cards.