Anwar explains Waze review, says Malaysia cannot ignore security risks

The Malaysian government is evaluating potential restrictions on the Waze navigation app for civil servants due to national security concerns, particularly regarding the app's connection to an Israeli company and legal jurisdiction issues.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized the importance of assessing security risks while considering alternative navigation options, acknowledging public criticism of current local apps.

Additionally, Anwar highlighted the government's commitment to maintaining the RON95 petrol price despite rising global oil costs, underscoring a focus on protecting public welfare.

The announcement was made during the PH Melaka election campaign event.

MELAKA, Oct 25 — The government is taking into account national security and sovereignty concerns in considering a restriction on the use of the Waze navigation application among civil servants, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, said the move was not intended to impose a blanket ban on Waze but took into account the risks of monitoring the movements of government officers, particularly those handling national security matters.

“I want to explain why the issue of Waze was raised. First, this is not merely about the Waze application but its connection with a company headquartered in Israel.

“Second, there is the question of legal jurisdiction should a dispute arise with the company. In certain circumstances, agreements involving international companies can raise questions about which courts have jurisdiction to resolve disputes,” he said.

He was speaking at the announcement of candidates and launch of the PH Melaka election machinery for the Melaka state election at Stadium Hang Jebat here yesterday.

Also present were DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, PKR vice-president and PH election director Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, and PH Melaka chairman Datuk Seri Adly Zahari.

Anwar said any further decision on a blanket ban on Waze would only be made after assessing whether existing alternatives had sufficient capabilities.

Acknowledging shortcomings in the implementation of measures related to Waze, he said he had taken note of public criticism, including concerns about the performance of local alternative navigation application TuJu, which he acknowledged still had shortcomings that needed to be addressed.

“I am not saying that the decision made previously was the most perfect one. There is still room for improvement.

“However, we also cannot leave considerations of security and national interests to external parties without assessing the risks. If there is a better alternative, the government will study it,” he said.

Anwar said the government must ensure that any measures taken did not compromise Malaysia’s stance on Israel’s actions or undermine the country’s interests.

He said Malaysia, as a sovereign nation, had the right to determine its own position, including on the issue of Palestine.

On the cost of living, Anwar stressed that the government would not raise the price of RON95 petrol from RM1.99 per litre for as long as the Madani Government held the mandate to govern, despite a significant increase in global crude oil prices.

He said the government had chosen to absorb the higher costs to prevent the public, particularly low- and middle-income groups, from bearing the additional burden of a petrol price hike.

“It is better for the government to bear the burden than to burden the people,” he said, stressing that protecting the people’s welfare would remain a key consideration in policymaking.

At the event, Anwar announced the 21 candidates who would represent PH in the Melaka state election, scheduled for Nov 14. — Bernama

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由于国家安全方面的担忧，特别是考虑到该应用程序与一家以色列公司的联系以及法律管辖权问题，马来西亚政府正在评估对公务员使用 Waze 导航应用程序的潜在限制。

首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣强调，在考虑其他导航方案时，评估安全风险至关重要，并承认公众对当前本地应用程序的批评。

此外，安华强调，尽管全球石油成本上涨，政府仍致力于维持RON95汽油价格，强调政府注重保护公众福利。

该消息是在马六甲希望联盟（PH）的竞选活动中宣布的。

马六甲，10月25日讯——首相拿督斯里安华·易卜拉欣表示，政府正在考虑限制公务员使用Waze导航应用程序，此举是出于国家安全和主权方面的考虑。

安华同时也是希望联盟（PH）主席，他表示此举并非意在全面禁止Waze，而是考虑到监控政府官员，特别是那些处理国家安全事务的官员的行踪所带来的风险。

“我想解释一下为什么会提出Waze这个问题。首先，这不仅仅是关于Waze应用程序本身，而是关于它与一家总部位于以色列的公司之间的联系。”

“其次，如果与公司发生纠纷，还存在法律管辖权的问题。在某些情况下，涉及国际公司的协议可能会引发关于哪些法院有权解决纠纷的问题，”他说道。

他昨天在汉惹拔体育场举行的马六甲州选举候选人公布仪式暨希望联盟马六甲州选举机器启动仪式上发表了讲话。

出席者包括行动党秘书长陆兆福、诚信党主席拿督斯里莫哈末沙布、公正党副主席兼希盟选举总监拿督斯里阿米鲁丁以及希盟马六甲主席拿督斯里阿德利扎哈里。

安华表示，是否全面禁止Waze的任何进一步决定，只有在评估现有替代方案是否具备足够功能之后才会做出。

他承认在执行与 Waze 相关的措施方面存在不足，并表示他已注意到公众的批评，包括对本地替代导航应用程序途居性能的担忧，他承认途居仍然存在需要解决的不足之处。

“我并不是说之前做出的决定是最完美的。还有改进的空间。”

“但是，我们也不能在不评估风险的情况下，将安全和国家利益的考量完全交给外部势力。如果有更好的替代方案，政府会进行研究，”他说道。

安华表示，政府必须确保采取的任何措施都不会损害马来西亚对以色列行动的立场或损害国家的利益。

他表示，马来西亚作为一个主权国家，有权决定自己的立场，包括在巴勒斯坦问题上的立场。

关于生活成本，安华强调，尽管全球原油价格大幅上涨，但只要马达尼政府继续执政，政府就不会将RON95汽油的价格从每升1.99令吉提高。

他表示，政府选择自行承担更高的成本，以防止公众，特别是中低收入群体，承担汽油价格上涨带来的额外负担。

“政府承担负担总比让人民承担负担要好，”他强调，保障人民福祉仍将是政策制定中的一个关键考虑因素。

在活动现场，安华宣布了代表希望联盟参加11月14日马六甲州选举的21名候选人名单。——马新社

特奥告诫各党派，不要利用种族、宗教或皇室来拉选票。

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