PMO confirms civil servants barred from using Waze over Israel data security risks

The Malaysian federal government has banned civil servants from using the Waze navigation app, citing concerns over the potential exploitation of sensitive government and personal data by Israel.

The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the directive, emphasizing the need to protect national security and sovereign interests.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also urged the public to switch to local navigation solutions like the TuJu app, which offers better data governance and privacy.

This decision was formalized by the National Cyber Security Committee and communicated through a circular to ensure immediate enforcement across public sectors.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The federal government barred all civil servants from using the Waze navigation application over concerns that sensitive official data and users’ personal information could be harvested and exploited by Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed today.

In a statement, the PMO confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim ordered an immediate ban across the public sector to safeguard government data and citizens’ movement information.

“This decision takes into account the status of Waze Mobile Ltd. As the data controller of users, incorporated and operating under Israeli law.

“Sensitive government information and the personal data of the people must be protected from being exploited by the Israeli regime in ways that could compromise national security and sovereignty,” the statement read.

PMO explained that Waze Mobile Ltd, which acts as the legal data controller for all user information collected via the platform, remains incorporated and subject to Israeli jurisdiction.

Official communications stressed that sensitive government logistics and personal travel records must be shielded from state-level exploitation that could compromise national security and sovereign interests.

Anwar also called on the wider Malaysian public to delete the app and migrate to homegrown navigational platforms like TuJu, pointing to the stronger data governance and privacy guarantees provided by domestic solutions.

“The MADANI government’s stance is firm, and we will close any space that can be exploited by the Israeli regime to threaten the security of the nation and its people,” the statement said.

The prohibition formalises a decision reached by the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) during its third meeting of 2026 on Oct 20, which was chaired directly by Anwar.

Following the committee’s decision, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar issued a formal circular directing all ministry secretaries-general, federal department heads, state secretaries, statutory body chiefs, and local council leaders to enforce the ban immediately across all departments and subordinate agencies.

Anwar had earlier raised security concerns on Oct 20 regarding the exposure of citizens’ geolocation profiles, pointing out that Waze operates within the Israeli statutory and regulatory framework.

To replace foreign navigation tools, the government is throwing its weight behind TuJu, a local mobility platform jointly developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd.

Officially unveiled by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi on Nov 26, 2025, the application is available across major mobile app stores. Alongside turn-by-turn navigation and estimated arrival times, the app integrates real-time highway toll data, live traffic camera feeds, rest-and-service area locator tools, and on-demand highway emergency assistance.

Malaysian Bar, office-bearers awarded RM59,499 after winning part of appeal over 2022 independence march

PM Anwar expresses concern over Middle East conflict, condemns Houthi attacks

Johari: Malaysia’s chip talent retention remains sustainable despite foreign offers

马来西亚联邦政府禁止公务员使用 Waze 导航应用程序，理由是担心以色列可能会利用敏感的政府和个人数据。

总理办公室确认了该指令，并强调有必要保护国家安全和主权利益。

首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣也敦促公众改用像 TuJu 应用这样的本地导航解决方案，这些方案提供更好的数据管理和隐私保护。

国家网络安全委员会正式确定了这一决定，并通过通告予以传达，以确保在公共部门立即执行。

吉隆坡，10 月 21 日讯——总理办公室今天证实，联邦政府已禁止所有公务员使用 Waze 导航应用程序，原因是担心敏感的官方数据和用户的个人信息可能被以色列收集和利用。

首相办公室在一份声明中证实，首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣已下令立即在公共部门全面禁止此类行为，以保护政府数据和公民出行信息。

“该决定考虑到了 Waze Mobile Ltd. 作为用户数据控制者的地位，该公司根据以色列法律注册成立并运营。

声明中写道：“必须保护敏感的政府信息和人民的个人数据，防止以色列政权以可能损害国家安全和主权的方式利用这些信息和数据。”

总理办公室解释说，Waze Mobile Ltd 作为通过该平台收集的所有用户信息的法律数据控制者，仍然是一家注册成立的公司，并受以色列司法管辖。

官方声明强调，必须保护敏感的政府后勤和个人旅行记录，防止国家层面利用这些信息，以免损害国家安全和主权利益。

安华还呼吁广大马来西亚民众删除该应用程序，转而使用像TuJu这样的本土导航平台，并指出本土解决方案能够提供更强大的数据治理和隐私保障。

声明称：“马达尼政府立场坚定，我们将堵住任何可能被以色列政权利用来威胁国家和人民安全的空隙。”

该禁令正式确立了国家网络安全委员会（JKSN）在 2026 年 10 月 20 日举行的第三次会议上做出的决定，该会议由安华直接主持。

委员会作出决定后，政府首席秘书丹斯里沙姆斯·阿兹里·阿布·巴卡尔发布正式通告，指示所有部委秘书长、联邦部门负责人、州秘书、法定机构负责人和地方议会领导人立即在所有部门和下属机构执行该禁令。

安瓦尔此前于 10 月 20 日对公民地理位置信息泄露的安全问题表示担忧，并指出 Waze 的运营符合以色列的法律法规框架。

为了取代外国导航工具，政府大力支持 TuJu，这是一个由马来西亚公路管理局 (LLM) 和 Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd 联合开发的本地出行平台。

该应用程序由工程部长拿督斯里亚历山大·南塔·林吉于2025年11月26日正式发布，现已在各大移动应用商店上架。除了提供逐向导航和预计到达时间外，该应用程序还集成了实时高速公路收费数据、实时交通摄像头画面、休息站和服务区定位工具以及按需高速公路紧急救援服务。

马来西亚律师公会及其官员在2022年独立游行上诉案中胜诉，获赔59,499令吉。

安瓦尔总理对中东冲突表示关切，谴责胡塞武装的袭击

乔哈里：尽管面临海外邀约，马来西亚芯片人才的留存率依然可持续