Malaysian civil servants have reportedly been instructed to stop using the popular navigation application Waze with immediate effect, following government concerns over data security and the application's links to Israel.
According to ChinaPress, the directive applies specifically to public servants and does not constitute a nationwide ban on Waze for ordinary Malaysians.
According to a letter received by heads of government departments, the decision was made during the third meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The instruction was subsequently communicated by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Government Departments Ordered to Comply Immediately
The letter reportedly instructs all secretaries-general and department heads to ensure that the decision is communicated to every officer under their supervision, including those serving in affiliated agencies and departments.
All relevant government bodies are expected to implement the directive immediately.
However, detailed guidelines regarding enforcement and whether the restriction extends to personal devices have yet to be publicly clarified.
Departments seeking further information have been advised to contact the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA), which operates under the National Security Council and is responsible for coordinating the implementation.
Government Encourages Malaysians to Use Local Navigation App TuJu
The directive comes as Anwar encouraged Malaysians to consider using TuJu, a locally developed highway navigation application, as an alternative to Waze.
The Prime Minister reportedly highlighted concerns surrounding the protection of Malaysians' location information and personal data, particularly in relation to the legal jurisdictions governing foreign technology companies.
Waze, a widely used navigation application owned by Google, provides real-time traffic updates, route recommendations and alerts about road accidents.
Meanwhile, TuJu was jointly developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd.
Launched in Malaysia on November 26 last year, the application represents part of the country's broader digital transformation efforts.
The government has positioned the locally developed platform as an alternative for motorists seeking highway navigation services.
What Do Malaysians Think?
With Waze being a popular navigation tool among Malaysian drivers, the reported directive has raised questions about convenience, cybersecurity and the future of locally developed alternatives.
Do you think restricting Waze for civil servants is a necessary step to protect national data security, or should users be free to choose their preferred navigation application? Share your thoughts below!
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