COMMENT | From the moment the public became aware of the Network School affair, the questions seemed to multiply faster than the answers.

The controversy started as an immigration story, after allegations emerged on social media that Israeli nationals were participating in the Network School tech commune in Forest City. For two weeks, Malaysians were told to focus on this.

Social media exploded, politicians demanded action, government agencies launched investigations, and national sovereignty dominated the headlines.

What is striking is that by the time the dust settled, the issue that first captured public attention was no longer the issue that ultimately led to the tech commune’s closure.

The controversy initially...