Kota Kinabalu: Sabah DAP chairman Senator Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe has questioned the preparation behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for Malaysians to switch from Waze to the locally developed navigation app Tuju.
Phoong said that while he supports homegrown technology and cybersecurity, products promoted for nationwide adoption must first meet basic standards of functionality, accuracy, and reliability.
He revealed that his own test of the application here showed it failed to navigate to major landmarks, including the Sabah Government Building and Imago Shopping Mall.
The Sabah Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman cautioned that such mapping inaccuracies could disrupt commercial transport operators and motorists who depend on dependable route guidance.
Phoong also warned against a West Malaysia-centric approach to digital infrastructure, stressing that Sabah and Sarawak must not be treated as an afterthought.
He said the controversy could have been prevented had basic performance and feasibility checks been conducted prior to the Prime Minister’s public endorsement.
Phoong called on the government to clarify Tuju’s readiness, mapping coverage, and data safeguards, urging developers to rectify user-reported flaws rather than relying on administrative directives.
