Civil servants barred from using Waze, PM urges everyone to switch to TuJu

All civil servants are barred from using the Waze navigation app with immediate effect, according to a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement on 21 October. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also urged all Malaysians to stop using Waze and switch to a local app such as TuJu. The ban covers civil servants only, and the advice to the public is not binding.

What the PMO said

According to RTM Berita and Utusan Melayu+, the decision is meant to protect government information and users' personal data from being misused by Israel. The PMO said it took into account that Waze Mobile Ltd is a corporate data controller incorporated in, and operating under the laws of, Israel.

"Sensitive government information and citizens' personal data must be protected from being used by the Israeli regime in ways that harm national security and sovereignty," the statement said.

The ban follows a National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) meeting chaired by Anwar on 20 October. The implementing directive was issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar in a letter, effective immediately, Utusan Melayu+ reported. The meeting also covered the Cyber Security Act 2024, MyDigital ID security and protection of National Critical Information Infrastructure, according to The Rakyat Post.

What is TuJu

TuJu was developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) with the Prosignal Consortium and launched in November 2025, The Rakyat Post said. It shows live toll charges, traffic conditions and CCTV feeds from LLM's traffic centre, lists R&R stops with their facilities, and lets drivers report accidents and road closures. It links to the MyJalan platform for complaints about potholes and damaged roads.

The Rakyat Post also cited a Carz report at launch that TuJu runs on Google's mapping data. Waze was founded in Israel in 2008 and acquired by Google in 2013.

Reaction in Parliament

In the Dewan Rakyat on 21 October, PAS MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said that if Waze is considered dangerous because it is based in Israel, it should be blocked for all citizens, not only civil servants, Utusan Melayu+ reported. A Malay Mail headline said MPs also asked whether WhatsApp and Instagram pose similar security risks.

What you need to know

• The ban applies to civil servants only. The public is advised, and no block has been placed on the app.
• The reports reviewed do not say whether the ban covers civil servants' personal phones, or how it will be enforced.
• Anyone who wants to switch can install TuJu, but the reports do not test it independently, so compare its live traffic features before dropping Waze completely.

The move fits a wider government focus on data. We earlier reported Public data barred from training AI models in government contracts, says Gobind, and the rules for online platforms are in Roblox age verification, MCMC studies age checks for online games.

Sources

• RTM Berita, Larangan guna Waze demi lindungi maklumat kerajaan, data pengguna, 21 October 2026
• Utusan Melayu+, Kenapa penjawat dilarang guna Waze…ini penjelasan PM, 21 October 2026
• The Rakyat Post, Waze Off, TuJu On: PM Sends Motorists Down a Different Road Over Israeli Law Fears, 21 October 2026
• Malay Mail, Waze ban: MPs ask if WhatsApp, Instagram pose similar security risks, 21 October 2026 (headline only)