Government Not Ruling Out Complete Nationwide Ban On Waze Navigation App, Says Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Malaysian government is considering a complete nationwide ban on the Waze navigation application.

Speaking to reporters after performing Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Mustaqim in Taman Nirwana, Kuala Lumpur, on Friday afternoon, October 23, 2026, Anwar stated that the ban could be implemented once local alternatives are fully evaluated and developed to replace the navigation service.

The announcement follows an earlier government directive issued by the National Security Council (MKN) prohibiting all civil servants and public sector workers from using Waze on official or personal devices, warning of strict disciplinary action under civil service regulations for non-compliance.

Anwar emphasized that national security concerns prompted immediate government action without delay.

Israeli Jurisdiction Concerns, Data Security, and Alternative Development

Key security concerns, jurisdictional issues, and policy measures highlighted by the Prime Minister include:

• Jurisdictional & Security Risks: Anwar noted that Waze’s underlying technology headquarters remain tied to Israel, with user agreement terms subjecting potential legal disputes to Israeli law.
• Data Transmission Concerns: The Prime Minister stressed that using Waze automatically routes real-time user location and mapping data through Israeli corporate servers, posing severe threats to national security and public privacy.
• Immediate Executive Directive: Defending the prompt ban on civil servants using the application, Anwar stated that compromising on national data security could not be tolerated while awaiting further reviews.
• Developing Local Alternatives: The government is actively assessing local digital capabilities and software platforms to build or scale a domestic navigation application capable of replacing foreign mapping systems safely.

The Cabinet and relevant ministries will continue assessing digital infrastructure and local technology capabilities before finalizing further directives regarding general public usage.

–NMT