Malaysia has directed all civil servants to stop using Alphabet owned navigation application Waze after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim raised concerns about potential security risks linked to the platform’s Israeli origins. The decision follows a meeting of the country’s national cybersecurity committee, where officials discussed the possible implications of using digital services that could be subject to foreign legal frameworks. Malaysia, a Muslim majority nation that does not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel and has consistently supported the Palestinian cause, said the measure is intended to strengthen the protection of government related information. Prime Minister Anwar stated that the government could not compromise on the security of people’s data and identities and confirmed that authorities are continuing to examine any potential risks associated with the application.
According to the Prime Minister, Waze is bound to Israeli laws, prompting the government to review whether its continued use by public sector employees could create security concerns. Although no specific technical vulnerabilities or confirmed incidents were disclosed, Anwar emphasized that safeguarding sensitive information remains a priority for the administration. Following the cybersecurity committee meeting, he recommended that government employees use TuJu, a navigation platform developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority, as an alternative. The recommendation reflects the government’s effort to encourage the use of locally developed digital services while broader security assessments continue. His comments were shared through an official Facebook post after the committee meeting, where the importance of protecting user information and digital identities was highlighted.
Malaysia’s Chief Secretary to the Government, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, subsequently issued a directive instructing all civil servants to discontinue the use of Waze with immediate effect. The instruction was communicated through an official letter addressed to the heads of government agencies, stating that the decision had been approved during the national cybersecurity committee meeting chaired by the Prime Minister. An official from the Prime Minister’s Department later confirmed the authenticity of the directive, reinforcing that the policy is now in effect across government institutions. The order applies specifically to civil servants and represents an administrative measure while the government continues its evaluation of potential security implications associated with the application.
Waze, originally founded in Israel, provides real time navigation by combining satellite positioning with traffic information contributed by its community of drivers. The platform has become one of the world’s most widely used navigation services due to its live traffic updates, route optimization and incident reporting capabilities. In 2013, Google, owned by Alphabet, acquired Waze in a deal valued at approximately one billion US dollars, integrating the application into its broader mapping ecosystem while allowing it to continue operating as a separate navigation service. Malaysia’s latest directive highlights how governments are increasingly assessing digital platforms through both cybersecurity and national policy considerations, particularly when applications handle location information and user data that could have broader implications for public sector operations.
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