Key facts
- Civil servants are banned from using Waze due to security concerns.
- The app's Israeli origins and legal ties were cited as reasons for the ban.
- Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim encouraged the use of a homegrown alternative, TuJu.
Malaysia has banned all civil servants from using the Waze navigation app, citing security concerns related to its Israeli origins and legal ties. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim warned that the government could not compromise on data security and that the app was bound by Israeli laws. The decision was formalized in a letter dated Tuesday by the Chief Secretary to the Government, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, following a National Cyber Security Committee meeting. The government is encouraging the use of a homegrown alternative, TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority, to address concerns about the handling of location and personal data. Waze was acquired by Google in 2013.