KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said the TuJu app has shortcomings, but that the ban on civil servants using Waze is a matter of national security.
“I received an admission from LLM (Malaysian Highway Authority) that TuJu is apparently incomplete. It is true that TuJu has shortcomings, but … I do not understand if this matter has become a controversy.
“Our decision (to impose a partial ban) is not controversial. This is a matter of national security. It is strange that people are still pressing the issue. I know I am being criticised and condemned for acting too hastily and rashly. I say, never mind, if it causes some inconvenience to some people, I apologise, but for me, national security is more important,” he said.
When met after Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Mustaqim in Taman Nirwana here today, he added that Waze could be banned outright as there are available alternatives, including local capabilities to develop a similar app.
“The Waze issue is a serious matter for us because, firstly, its headquarters is in Israel. Secondly, under the agreement governing the use of the application, if there are any problems, they are subject to Israeli law. That is why I took relatively spontaneous action (to prohibit civil servants from using Waze).
“This cannot be delayed, not even for a day. Some people say we should be patient and conduct checks first, but I say it is clear that if Waze is used, it means all information is automatically handed over to Israel, so this is a matter of the security of the people and the country, and I cannot compromise on it,” he said.
“Even if (local apps) are not sophisticated, that is fine, we can improve them. It is better to be safe than to hand over state, personal and national confidential information to Israel. That is what is important to understand.
“We are among the countries that strongly oppose the brutal Zionist Israeli regime, so naturally, our actions are being monitored. I believe that from now on, all their influence will be used to attack us,” he said.
Anwar added that the Waze ban was discussed at today’s Cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, BDS Malaysia welcomed the government’s directive banning civil servants from using Waze and its call for members of the public to stop using the navigation app.
In a statement today, the organisation cited concerns that using Waze could compromise Malaysia’s national security and sovereignty.
“We fully support this directive, which is issued in the interest of preventing our national security and sovereignty from being compromised by Waze, an Israeli-based company, for the benefit of the Zionist apartheid and genocidal regime,” it said.
It also urged the government to be consistent in addressing national security concerns.
BDS Malaysia is part of the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which campaigns for boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel in support of Palestinian rights.
On Wednesday, Anwar ordered civil servants to stop using Waze over concerns that sensitive government information and personal data could be exploited by Israel.
