Malaysia news this week, Waze ban, TuJu glitches, Sarawak dissolution and Melaka seat talks

Malaysia's week from Monday 19 to Saturday 24 October 2026 was dominated by one story and one deadline. The government barred civil servants from using Waze and Anwar Ibrahim urged everyone to switch to TuJu, an app that then struggled to cope. Meanwhile the Sarawak assembly was set to dissolve on 26 October, and the Melaka election talks kept shifting seats. Here is what happened, with links to every saksama post from the week.

The week's biggest story

The Prime Minister's Office said civil servants are barred from using Waze with immediate effect, and Anwar urged all Malaysians to move to TuJu, an app built by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), according to Bernama and Free Malaysia Today (FMT). Our first report is Civil servants barred from using Waze, PM urges everyone to switch to TuJu.

TuJu was then disrupted by a surge of new users. LLM apologised, and Lim Guan Eng called it a "national embarrassment", as covered in TuJu app not working after Waze ban, LLM apologises as users surge. On 23 October Anwar apologised if the ban inconveniences the public, saying national security comes first, while Waze said the claims that it exposes user data are "completely false". The ban binds only civil servants on duty, and Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said other Malaysians may use any app except Waze. TuJu's provider targets restoring navigation by 6 November at the latest, according to FMT and Bernama. What applies to you is in Waze ban, Anwar apologises, Waze denies the data claims and what applies to you.

Other stories that mattered

• Sarawak. Premier Abang Johari Openg announced on 23 October that the assembly dissolves on 26 October, and the 13th state election must follow within 60 days, according to FMT and Bernama. See Sarawak assembly to dissolve on 26 October, state election due within 60 days.
• Melaka seats. Zahid Hamidi rejected Perikatan Nasional's request for two more seats on 24 October: BN contests 21 and leaves seven for PN, according to Bernama and FMT. See Zahid rejects PN request for two more Melaka seats, BN to contest 21. Separately, Anwar announced Pakatan Harapan's 21 candidates for Melaka at Stadium Hang Jebat on Saturday, with nine seats for PKR, seven for DAP and five for Amanah, RTM reported.
• Perikatan Nasional. The Registrar of Societies deregistered PN on 20 October and PN said it would appeal to the home minister and go to court, per RoS deregisters Perikatan Nasional, PN to appeal to home minister and court. Our 24 October report notes that the High Court has since stayed the deregistration while PN's judicial review is heard.
• Najib. The Prisons Department is finalising Najib Razak's house arrest conditions, but he stays in Kajang Prison because the RM50 million fine is unpaid, Saifuddin Nasution said. See Najib house arrest rules being finalised, but the RM50 million fine is still unpaid.
• Haze and schools. Schools in five states reopened on 19 October with haze measures. See Schools in five states reopen on 19 October with masks, and civil servants may work hybrid in haze.
• Weather. MetMalaysia says the northeast monsoon starts on 27 October. See Northeast monsoon 2026 starts on 27 October, MetMalaysia expects three to five heavy rain episodes.

Every post from the week

News

• Schools in five states reopen on 19 October with masks, and civil servants may work hybrid in haze. Education Ministry schools in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang and Penang reopen on 19 October with haze measures. Civil servants may work hybrid.
• Roblox age verification, MCMC studies age checks for online games. MCMC is studying age restrictions and verification for gaming platforms like Roblox, says Fahmi, after claims that extremists recruit children via games.
• ECRL fares start at RM125 to Kota Bharu, with 30% off in the first month. ECRL one-way fares from Gombak to Kota Bharu start at RM125 for transit and RM147 for express, with 30% off the first month. Tickets on sale mid-November.
• Civil servants barred from using Waze, PM urges everyone to switch to TuJu. Civil servants are barred from using Waze with immediate effect, the PMO says. Anwar also urged all Malaysians to switch to TuJu, an app built by the LLM.
• MCMC urges Malaysians to delete Kuching school attack video. MCMC wants anyone who shared video of the attack on a teacher at a Kuching school to delete it now. Police will hold a press conference on 27 October.
• Northeast monsoon 2026 starts on 27 October, MetMalaysia expects three to five heavy rain episodes. The northeast monsoon begins 27 October. MetMalaysia expects three to five episodes of heavy rain from November to January, with flood risk.

Current issues

• Najib house arrest rules being finalised, but the RM50 million fine is still unpaid. The Prisons Department is finalising Najib's house arrest conditions, but he stays in Kajang Prison as the RM50 million fine is unpaid, Saifuddin says.
• Data centre electricity demand to peak at 8.39 GW by 2030, and a data centre bill goes to Cabinet in 2027. Data centre electricity demand in Peninsular Malaysia is projected to hit 8.39 GW by 2030, 4.42 GW in Johor. A data centre bill goes to Cabinet in 2027.
• Public data barred from training AI models in government contracts, says Gobind. AI providers may not use government or public data to train their models, says Gobind. It is a clause in all government AI procurement contracts.
• TuJu app not working after Waze ban, LLM apologises as users surge. TuJu was disrupted after a user surge following Anwar's call to switch from Waze. LLM apologised, and Lim Guan Eng called it a 'national embarrassment'.
• Education Ministry refines the student protection policy, says the aku janji letter is not the measure of teacher commitment. KPM is refining the Student Protection Policy and its aku janji pledge, Fadhlina Sidek told Parliament. NUTP wants a joint pledge in its place.
• Waze ban, Anwar apologises, Waze denies the data claims and what applies to you. Anwar apologised over the Waze ban and Waze rejects the data claims. Ordinary users may use any app but Waze, says Fahmi. Here is what applies to you.

Politics

• Takiyuddin's munafik remark sparks 10-minute row in Dewan Rakyat, Speaker to check Hansard. Takiyuddin cited a hadith on hypocrites in the Budget 2027 debate and PH's RSN Rayer objected. Speaker Johari Abdul will rule after checking the Hansard.
• RoS deregisters Perikatan Nasional, PN to appeal to home minister and court. The Registrar of Societies has deregistered Perikatan Nasional. PN's Takiyuddin says it will appeal to the home minister and go to court.
• Amirudin says Selangor's pact is with Bersatu, not PN, to be signed after 25 or 26 October. Amirudin Shari says Selangor's planned pact stays on with Bersatu because it is with Bersatu, not PN. It is expected to be signed after 25 or 26 October.
• Sarawak assembly to dissolve on 26 October, state election due within 60 days. Premier Abang Johari Openg says the Sarawak assembly dissolves on 26 October with the governor's consent. The 13th state election is due within 60 days.
• Zahid rejects PN request for two more Melaka seats, BN to contest 21. Zahid Hamidi rejects Perikatan Nasional's request for two more seats in the Melaka election. BN keeps 21 and leaves seven for PN, the BN chairman says.

Tech

• Claude Marketplace opens, and developers can now submit plugins with skills. Anthropic opened Claude Marketplace with over 2,000 plugins and connectors, then a portal where paid users submit skill-based plugins. How review works.
• Vals AI test finds AI agent teams cost up to 5 times more and rarely build better apps. Vals AI had GPT 6 Sol and Claude Opus 5.5 build 50 web apps solo and in agent teams. Teams cost 1.8 to 5.1x more, and only one of four setups did better.
• Before you install a Claude skill from GitHub, check these things. Anthropic now scans third-party skills for Enterprise customers, but skills you copy from GitHub into Claude Code are on you. The risks, and a checklist.
• Before you share a vibe-coded app, check these four security gaps. Researchers keep finding the same four mistakes in AI-built apps, and some have leaked personal data. What to check first, and Malaysia's breach rules.
• Claude skill repos worth a look in October 2026. GitHub repos worth knowing for Claude skills, from Anthropic's official repo to packs for Obsidian and science, with star counts and install commands.
• DNB and MRT Corp to bring indoor 5G to the RTS Link complex in Johor Bahru. Digital Nasional Berhad and MRT Corp signed an MoU for indoor 5G at the RTS Link complex in Bukit Chagar. U Mobile signed its own MoU three days later.

Coming up

• Monday 26 October: the Sarawak assembly is due to dissolve.
• Tuesday 27 October: the northeast monsoon begins, and police hold a press conference on the Kuching school attack.
• Saturday 31 October: nomination day for the Melaka election. Early voting is on 10 November and polling on 14 November.
• By Friday 6 November: TuJu's provider aims to restore navigation functions.
• Mid-November: ECRL tickets go on sale, with 30% off in the first month.

Sources

• Malay Mail, Anwar apologises over Waze ban linked to Israel, says national security comes first, 23 October 2026
• Malay Mail, Fahmi says Malaysians can use any navigation app except Waze, including overseas alternatives, 23 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, TuJu's glitches to be fixed within 2 weeks, says provider, 23 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Sarawak assembly to dissolve next Monday, 23 October 2026
• Free Malaysia Today, Zahid spurns PN's appeal for 2 more seats in Melaka polls pact, 24 October 2026
• Malay Mail (Bernama), BN rejects Perikatan request for additional seats in Melaka election, 24 October 2026
• RTM, PRN Melaka: PH umum 21 calon bertanding, 25 October 2026