Govt bans civil servants from using Israel-linked Waze, Anwar promotes local navigation app
Govt bans civil servants from using Israel-linked Waze, Anwar promotes local navigation app
Putrajaya has banned its civil servants from using Israel-based navigation app Waze, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promoting the government’s own version of a wayfinding software.
The prohibition against the popular navigation app is believed to be linked to the Google subsidiary’s Israeli roots, which Anwar said presents movement data and information security risks as the app is “bound under the laws of the Israeli government”…
Putrajaya has banned its civil servants from using Israel-based navigation app Waze, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim promoting the government’s own version of a wayfinding software.
The prohibition against the popular navigation app is believed to be linked to the Google subsidiary’s Israeli roots, which Anwar said presents movement data and information security risks as the app is “bound under the laws of the Israeli government”.
Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar detailed the new rule for civil servants in a letter dated yesterday, sighted by Malaysiakini.
The letter noted that the directive came after the prime minister chaired a National Cybersecurity Committee Meeting on the same day, where the decision was made immediately.
The document added that the National Cyber Security Agency (Nacsa) under the National Security Council of the Prime Minister’s Department (PMD) is the coordinating agency for the directive’s implementation.
Taking to Facebook last night, Anwar affirmed that the government will not compromise on the security of the rakyat’s data and encouraged the use of TuJu, a local route planner developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
In a statement today, the PMD advised Malaysians to stop using Waze and switch to local alternative options.
The National Security Council under the PMD similarly advocated for civil servants and Malaysians to utilise TuJu or other suitable apps.
Launched in November last year by the LLM in partnership with Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd, TuJu provides access to live traffic reports from LLM’s traffic management centre, with users also able to access real-time highway CCTV feeds.
TuJu’s use among the public thus far, however, has been minimal, with the app garnering a 2.6 rating on the Apple Store and a 2.5 score on Google Playstore.
Malaysiakini has contacted Waze for comments.
In the frequently asked questions (FAQ) guide issued by Nacsa later, the agency clarified that the ban applies only to civil servants while on official duty, but still encouraged them to uninstall Waze and switch to a suitable local navigation app.
Below is the FAQ on the ban.
Waze’s link to Israel is generally known among Malaysians. In 2024, users worldwide, including those in Malaysia, reported a glitch in Waze, where its display language suddenly turned to Hebrew.
The incident saw several users taking to social media to share their concerns, with some opting to uninstall the app.
Calls for nationwide ban
On Oct 7, Malaysian Cyber Consumer Association (MCCA) president Siraj Jalil called for the government to consider banning Waze in the nation, following a scrutiny of the app’s terms of use updated on July 8.
In a statement, Siraj said the latest terms state that Waze services are provided and supplied by Waze Mobile Ltd, a company incorporated and operating under the laws of Israel, with its address in Tel Aviv.
He noted that while Waze was acquired by Google in 2013, the app’s latest terms of use and privacy policy still name the Israel-based company as the party responsible for its service and user data.
Waze’s privacy policy lets it collect users’ locations, routes, destinations, search histories, and device details – depending on their settings.
Al Jazeera previously reported that such data, when collected across many users over time, have security value as they can reveal movement patterns, peak times, and unusual changes.
Earlier this month, it was also reported that Iraq is set to ban Waze by the end of the year, citing the app’s Israeli links, while some referenced the app’s use to avoid checkpoints.
Iraq’s Communication Ministry has since said Waze would be replaced by a yet-to-be-named Iraqi app as a national alternative.
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There must be a good reason why the govmt has banned Waze from being used by civil servants. Data and information security risks are no joke and it can be exploited and manipulated to cause national security risk to the country.
Nowadays it is hard to disentangle from the global network that inadvertantly possess Israeli-American control and influence, but they have to be resisted for the benefit of the global society. BRICS can do more than just build alternative financial systems to traditional led Western system, it can develop alternative data and information systems.
The app does not work without having to register. Tried registering, but still waiting for the verification email. What is our data being used for after this?
Tuju ke Holland?
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There must be a good reason why the govmt has banned Waze from being used by civil servants. Data and information security risks are no joke and it can be exploited and manipulated to cause national security risk to the country.
Nowadays it is hard to disentangle from the global network that inadvertantly possess Israeli-American control and influence, but they have to be resisted for the benefit of the global society. BRICS can do more than just build alternative financial systems to traditional led Western system, it can develop alternative data and information systems.
You prefer Chinese and Indian surveillance over US surveillance. Interesting.
The app does not work without having to register. Tried registering, but still waiting for the verification email. What is our data being used for after this?
Tuju ke Holland?
Malaysia is not like China whereby China can develop new apps to compete with Waze. Waze has been adapted and accepted for use by Malaysians since it was known. There was hardly any complaints by Waze users. TuJu is a new app and hardly been tested extensively including stress test by Malaysians. Wonder who is the lucky vendor who got the contract for TuJu project. Malaysia dont even has any satellite system to compete with Waze. Waze uses GPS which is a foreign entity. What satellite system does TuJu used? If Malaysia Govt doesn’t have end to end system, the possibility of some foreign country using Malaysia data is high and vulnerable. This is a half baked solution to replace Waze. Syiok sendiri
I use waze to go to kebun. Not that I can get lost, but I use it to see traffic conditions.
I have a feeling this is less about Israel and more about promoting the app
Pure paranoia. What is the endgame? Why would Israel be interested in Malaysia. We are a non-significant entity internationally. We have no real influence in any part of the world including SEA. The whole world uses inventions and medicines developed by jews including chemotherapy immunotherapy and vaccines. Are we going to say these are a threat to our healthcare? Major finance and investment entities are either jewish owned or managed. Are we going to ban them from trading investing and financing our projects and business? This ban seems nothing more than populist. Google is jewish owned. Will they be banned as well? Govt should focus on matters that will make life better not political actions having no tangible benefit other than pandering to the emotions of the extremists that all things jewish are bad.
Wonder who owns Apple? Anyone know?
Can we for once come up with stuff that solve our unique problems? Products like Tuju aren’t moving the industry up the value chain. i mean it’s just a crude rip-off. Just like PMX AI.
Are govt pensioners considered civil servants?
How about all those medical inventions by Israelites that are keeping people healthy or even alive???
Tak mahu juga?
Pakai bomoh… ???
Such stupidity!
Might as well block Google !!!!
Any why stop with Waze?
Waze (Google-owned)
Moovit (Intel-owned)
Fiverr
Wix
monday.com
eToro
Payoneer
MyHeritage
Taboola
Outbrain
I can go on!!!
Expect a lot (more) civil servants to be late for work and appointments.
Worse…..emergency personnel getting lost due to incomplete navigation
What about Israel-friendly weapons supplier BlackRock’s stake in MAHB?
Paranoia and hypocrisy!
How to ban?
I have been using wase few years back , why now Israel is interested to track our location movement. I cannot reason why now, and wase is so reliable and accurate lead to the location I wanted.
by ooenly support Hamas and Iran, he himself become the Israel potential target. siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas
When Malaysian government going to ban Oracle HR, ERP, and EPM solutions? Isn’t their CEO Safra Catz a strong supporter of Israel?
Please find your way round KL by just stopping in the jam and asking people. No one is stopping you.
Before smartphone era we can still arrive at a certain location, if we got lost we just ask someone.
I downloaded this Tuju app, but sorry it say, it is not user-friendly. The software seems like plagiarizing google map, but with a downgraded interface.
When I want to register with my hotmail, the confirmation email is not sent.
Besides, this app is laggy, whenever i search a location, it took around 20 seconds to finish loading, which I never experience this before in either google map or waze.
Just a matter of time users will “tinjukan” tuju out of frustrations.
Tuju might be used to track everyone. Just be careful
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