KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — For delivery riders and e-hailing drivers who spend hours on the road, switching navigation apps is not as simple as downloading a new one, especially when the routes they take can affect their time, earnings and ability to reach customers.
Outside Sunway Wangsa Walk here, three delivery riders said they had yet to try TuJu, the locally developed navigation app promoted by the government as an alternative to Waze, with some preferring to wait until it becomes more reliable before making the switch.
Muhammad Nabil Khairuddin, 30, a Grab rider, said he first learnt about TuJu through TikTok and Facebook yesterday and was considering downloading it to see how it compared with established navigation apps.
“I might try downloading and using TuJu first to see whether it needs any improvements. I’ll see how it works,” he told Malay Mail.
For deliveries, however, Nabil said he already relied on Grab’s in-house navigation system, which allows him to find destinations without leaving the ride-hailing app.
He said Grab previously allowed riders to choose between Waze and Google Maps, but its own navigation system now offered a more convenient option.
“For deliveries, Grab has its own map. Previously, we could choose whether to use Waze or Google Maps, but now Grab has its own navigation system, so there is no need to leave the app. We can navigate directly from there,” he said.
Another rider, who wished to be known as Mat Yo, 32, who works with Lalamove, said he would only consider switching to TuJu once the app was stable, preferring to stick with Waze in the meantime.
“Honestly, Waze is the easiest to use. For Lalamove, it can use Google Maps, but I rarely use it because I’m more comfortable with Waze, it’s easier,” he said.
Mohammad Abdul Aziz Mohd Bhekori, 25, another Grab rider, said he knew little about TuJu and continued to rely on Grab’s map or Google Maps.
Mohammad Abdul Aziz Mohd Bhekori said he knew little about TuJu and continued to rely on Grab’s map or Google Maps. — Picture by Muhammad Yusry He said he had stopped using Waze previously because it sometimes directed him along what he considered unreasonable routes.
The hesitation among riders comes as the government urges Malaysians to consider uninstalling Waze over concerns that users’ personal and movement data could fall under Israeli jurisdiction.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on October 20, 2026, encouraged the public to use TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in collaboration with Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd, as an alternative to Waze.
National Security Council director-general for National Security Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin has urged Malaysians to uninstall Waze over the concerns.
However, he said that there will not be a blanket ban issued to preserve individual freedom of choice.
For e-hailing drivers, the decision also comes down to familiarity and whether a new app can offer the features they have come to depend on.
A Grab driver of a blue Perodua Bezza, who had just dropped off a passenger at the Sri Rampai LRT station and wished to remain anonymous, said he preferred Waze’s navigation system because it showed toll charges upfront.
Having used Waze for years, he said switching to another app would require time to adjust, but he would consider TuJu if other users gave it positive reviews.
“If people start saying that TuJu is good, then I’ll use it,” he said.
Muhammad Khalid Azmi, 28, an e-hailing driver based in Putrajaya, said he had not tried TuJu and would continue using Waze, with Google Maps as an alternative.
Khalid, who has used Waze for more than five years, said he relied on it to check traffic conditions, estimated arrival times and journey durations.
He also found Grab’s navigation system useful, saying it could incorporate community feedback and updates, while the map available on Bolt was less accurate in his experience.
“I haven’t used TuJu yet, so I don’t know what it is like, or what its weaknesses and strengths are. For now, I prefer either Waze or Google Maps because Grab has its own in-house map, which works reasonably well.
“However, when I’m using Bolt, its map is not accurate. The established navigation apps are either Google Maps and Waze. I’m not sure about the other navigation apps, but those two are already linked to e-hailing apps,” he said.
TuJu, which was launched in November last year, provides navigation, estimated arrival times, live traffic information, highway CCTV feeds, toll fares and information on rest and service areas.
However, the app has faced technical disruptions following a surge in users after Anwar recommended it as an alternative to Waze.
LLM and PCSB apologised for the disruption, saying they were working to restore system stability, increase capacity and address complaints about navigation functions, route accuracy and the overall user experience.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said that the government was also expanding TuJu’s coverage beyond highways to include ordinary roads, following public feedback calling for more comprehensive navigation services.
The expansion is intended to improve traffic information and the app’s overall capabilities, as the government seeks to strengthen the use of locally developed technology.
For riders and drivers who depend on navigation throughout the working day, however, TuJu will have to prove itself on the road before it can displace the apps they already know and trust.
