KUALA LUMPUR: The government may consider a complete ban on Waze if locally developed navigation apps are found to be adequate, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
On Tuesday, Anwar ordered a ban on Waze for civil servants while on official duty over security concerns linked to the Israeli-made navigation app.
Speaking to reporters after Friday prayers here, Anwar said the government would first assess the capabilities of alternative apps before deciding whether to discontinue the use of 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.
He acknowledged that the decision had drawn criticism, but maintained that national security must take precedence.
“Are we willing to hand over our information to Israel? That is the question,” he said.
On Wednesday, Anwar said the ban on civil servants using Waze was 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.
However, complaints from TuJu users have surfaced on social media platforms such as Threads, citing issues with the app, including unreliable route navigation, a lack of real-time incident data, and bugs that affect user experience.
The government’s decision to ban civil servants from using Waze has drawn criticism, with DAP Youth calling for the matter to be reviewed after citing the lack of publicly available evidence that Waze poses 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 (Gobind) and secretary-general (Loke).
Waze denied yesterday that it collects sensitive government information or allows any party to exploit users' personal data.