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Malaysia has reportedly prohibited civil servants from using Waze with immediate effect, following a decision by the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) aimed at strengthening the country's digital security and protecting sensitive location data. According to an official notification dated October 20, 2026, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar informed ministry secretaries-general and heads of departments of the decision made during the committee's third meeting of 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The directive requires all ministry secretaries-general and department heads to communicate the decision to officers under their supervision and ensure its immediate implementation across relevant agencies and departments. The notification stated that the committee had reached a decision concerning the prohibition of Waze among members of the public service. Officials seeking further clarification on the implementation of the directive have been advised to contact the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), which operates under the National Security Council within the Prime Minister's Department. The reported restriction comes amid growing concerns about the security of personal information and movement data collected through digital navigation platforms.
Anwar was reported to have highlighted potential risks associated with using Waze, citing concerns about the handling of Malaysians' location data and the application's links to Israeli jurisdiction. The issue was among the matters discussed during the National Cyber Security Committee's third meeting of 2026, which focused on emerging cyber threats, national preparedness and strengthening Malaysia's digital sovereignty. Protecting sensitive information has become an increasingly important consideration as government agencies rely more heavily on digital applications and interconnected technologies in their daily operations.
As an alternative, the government is encouraging Malaysians to consider using TuJu, a local navigation application developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
The recommendation reflects broader efforts to strengthen the country's digital independence while exploring navigation solutions that better align with national security priorities. Although the reported prohibition specifically concerns civil servants, the government's encouragement for the public to consider TuJu signals a wider discussion about digital privacy, data protection and the importance of understanding how technology platforms handle users' information.
Under the reported directive, civil servants are expected to follow the restriction immediately, with ministry and departmental leadership responsible for communicating and implementing the decision. Further guidance on compliance and the scope of the prohibition can be sought from NACSA. For the wider public, TuJu has been highlighted as an alternative worth considering as Malaysia continues to examine the relationship between digital technology, cybersecurity and national sovereignty.
Al Jazeera previously reported that such data, when aggregated from large numbers of users over time, could have security implications by revealing movement patterns, peak traffic periods and unusual changes in activity. Earlier this month, Iraq was also reported to be planning to restrict Waze by the end of the year, citing the application's links to Israel. The use of Waze's alert features to avoid roadblocks has also been raised in security discussions in the country.
Note: This report is based on the information provided. The authenticity and full text of the reported government directive, including its precise scope and legal basis, should be independently verified through official government channels before publication.
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