The government may consider a complete ban on Waze if locally developed navigation apps are found to be adequate, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
This follows Anwar’s order on Tuesday banning civil servants from using Waze while on official duty over security concerns linked to the Israeli-made navigation app.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers today, Anwar said the government would first assess the capabilities of alternative apps before deciding whether to discontinue Waze entirely.
“If we find tomorrow that our capabilities are good enough, then we may consider discontinuing it altogether,” he said when asked whether a blanket ban was being considered.
Anwar says national security must come first
Anwar maintained that national security must take precedence despite criticism of the restrictions on Waze for civil servants. He also said he believed Israel would soon use its influence against Malaysia.
“We are among the nations strongly against Israel’s cruel Zionist regime. Our actions are certainly being monitored. I believe that after this, they will use all their influence to attack us.
“Are we willing to hand over our information to Israel? That is the question,” he said.
On Wednesday, Anwar said the ban was intended to prevent Israel from misusing government information and users’ personal data.
He also urged the public to switch to local alternatives such as TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd.
Local app faces complaints as Waze ban draws criticism
However, TuJu users have complained on social media platforms such as Threads about problems with the app, including unreliable route navigation, a lack of real-time incident data and bugs affecting the user experience.
The government’s decision to restrict civil servants from using Waze has also drawn criticism. DAP Youth called for a review, saying there was no publicly available evidence that the app posed a threat to national security.
Anwar said the issue had been explained at a Cabinet meeting, with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook agreeing with the government’s position.
“All the DAP leaders were there. Gobind and Loke agreed,” he said, referring to the party’s chairman and secretary-general respectively.
Waze denied yesterday that it collects sensitive government information or allows any party to exploit users’ personal data.
