CYBERJAYA, October 22 2026, Civil servants who continue using navigation app Waze despite the government’s ban may face disciplinary action, National Security Council (MKN) director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said.
He said department heads were responsible for ensuring compliance with the directive issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, which took immediate effect.
Raja Nushirwan urged civil servants to stop using the application over concerns that their movement data could be exploited by external parties.
He said the government was adopting a phased approach to address data security concerns, focusing on public awareness while balancing national security interests with individual freedoms.
The effectiveness of the approach would be reviewed periodically before further action was considered. He also cautioned that an immediate nationwide ban could send negative signals to application developers and the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.
Raja Nushirwan encouraged Malaysians to consider local navigation alternatives, including TuJu, developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM).
The government announced the ban on Waze for civil servants on Oct 21, citing concerns over the potential misuse of government information and personal data.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision took into account Waze Mobile Ltd’s status as a data controller incorporated and operating under Israeli law. He also urged Malaysians to reduce their reliance on the application to strengthen personal data protection.
— BERNAMA
