CIVIL servants have been prohibited from using navigation application Waze with immediate effect following a decision by the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN), according to an official notification issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar.
Dated Oct 20, the notification followed the committee’s third meeting of 2026, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“The National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) Bil 3/2026, which convened on Oct 20, 2026, and was chaired by the Prime Minister, decided on a ban on the use of the Israel-based Waze navigation application among members of the public service,” the notification stated.
All ministry secretaries-general and heads of departments have been instructed to ensure that the decision is communicated to officers under their supervision and implemented immediately.
Agencies and departments concerned must also comply with the directive, while requests for clarification on its implementation may be referred to the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) under the Prime Minister’s Department, which coordinates the matter.
The directive follows Anwar’s statement yesterday that the government was encouraging the public to use TuJu, a local navigation application developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), as an alternative.
Anwar reportedly said concerns over information security and the movement data of Malaysians had been raised because Waze operates under Israeli government laws.
The issue was among matters discussed at the JKSN’s third meeting of 2026, which reviewed cyber threats and efforts to strengthen the country’s preparedness and digital sovereignty. - October 21, 2026