Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has not ruled out a complete ban on navigation app Waze in Malaysia if local alternatives develop sufficient capabilities, saying national security must take priority over convenience.
Anwar said the government would first need to study the available alternatives before making any further decisions.
He acknowledged the controversy surrounding the Waze restrictions, particularly concerns over the shortcomings of local navigation apps.
“We need to study what alternatives are available. If tomorrow we find that our capabilities are good enough, we may consider the possibility of banning it altogether,” he said after Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Mustaqim in Taman Nirwana, Ampang.
“The controversy stems from the slow performance of the alternatives. I agree with that, but our decision is not about controversy. This is a matter of national security.”
The remarks follow criticism from DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng, who described local navigation app TuJu as an embarrassment to the country, citing its poor performance and inconvenience to users.
The criticism came after a ban on civil servants using Waze, which is based in Israel, took immediate effect.
The restriction was communicated through an official notice issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar on October 20, following the third 2026 meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee, chaired by Anwar.
Anwar said the decision was made after the committee reviewed information about Waze’s headquarters and the terms governing its use.
According to him, the review found that Waze is headquartered in Israel and that its user agreements are subject to Israeli law.
“If you use Waze, it means automatically handing over all information to Israel. We must not make that mistake,” he said, explaining why he had acted swiftly.
“That was why I took what might seem like a spontaneous decision. I said we could not even delay it by one day.”
Anwar stressed that the government could not compromise national security simply because local alternatives lacked some of Waze’s features.
He encouraged users to switch to other Malaysia-based navigation apps, even if they were not yet as advanced, while improvements were being made.
“It is better to be safe than to hand over confidential information about the government, your personal information and the country to Israel. That is what people need to understand,” he said.
Addressing criticism that the decision had been rushed, Anwar said he understood the inconvenience users might face but maintained that national security had to come first.
“Although I know I am being criticised and accused of acting hastily, I apologise if this causes inconvenience to some people. But, to me, national security is more important,” he said.
He advised users to be patient with alternative applications, even if they had to take slightly longer routes.
On calls by DAP to review the Waze restriction, Anwar said the matter had already been explained during a Cabinet meeting.
He claimed that DAP leaders present during the briefing, including national chairman Gobind Singh Deo and secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook, had agreed with the government’s position.
“Are we willing to hand over our information to be governed by Israeli law? That is the question. If it involves handing over government information, I will not allow it at all,” he said.
