The government has banned all civil servants from using the Waze navigation app, and prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is urging the rest of the country to stop using it too. In a media statement today, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the ban is meant to protect government information and users’ personal data from misuse by the “Israeli regime”.
The PMO said the decision takes into account the position of Waze Mobile Ltd, the controller of the app’s user data, which it says is incorporated and operates under Israeli law. “Sensitive government information and the people’s personal data must be protected from being exploited by the Israeli regime to the detriment of the country’s security and sovereignty,” the statement read (our translation).
It also called on Malaysians to stop using Waze and switch to local alternatives such as TuJu, citing the security and personal data protection it offers. “The MADANI government’s stance is firm, and we will close any gap that could be used by the Israeli regime to threaten the security of the country and its people,” it added.
The ban was set out in a letter dated October 20 from the Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, Bernama reports. It follows a decision made that day at a meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee chaired by Anwar, and takes effect immediately.
The letter went to the secretaries-general of all ministries, heads of federal departments and federal statutory bodies, state secretaries and heads of local authorities. Questions about the directive are to go to the National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA) under the National Security Council.
Anwar first raised the matter in a Facebook post after yesterday’s meeting, saying Waze is bound by the laws of the Israeli government. “We cannot compromise when it comes to the security of our citizens’ data and identities,” he said. According to Reuters, he did not give any details of the risks.
The reports so far don’t say whether the ban covers civil servants’ personal phones or use outside working hours. Raub MP Chow Yu Hui has asked the government to explain this, FMT reports. He also asked, “what is the difference in data security risks between Waze and Google Maps, which are owned by the same parent company?”
Alor Setar MP Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden said that if Waze posed a genuine threat, it should be blocked for everyone in the country, not just civil servants.
Waze was founded in Israel and was bought by Google in 2013, for about US$1 billion according to Reuters. It uses crowd-sourced reports from drivers to provide real-time traffic information.
TuJu was developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) with Prosignal Consortium, and launched last November. Besides navigation and live traffic, it shows toll charges, R&R facilities and live feeds from LLM’s highway CCTV cameras, and has an SOS button for emergencies.
When we covered its launch, TuJu used Google’s mapping and point-of-interest data, as well as technology from Maybank. An LLM official also told us then that Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support was planned, but TuJu still has neither. Its Google Play listing shows it for phones only, while Waze’s also lists cars.
The Android version was last updated in August, adding toll announcements along your route and voice search, but the iPhone version hasn’t been updated since its launch. TuJu is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Alternatively, the Grab app has navigation built in, running on GrabMaps, Grab’s in-house mapping service. Just tap the Maps icon on the app’s home screen. It shows live traffic and reported incidents along your route, how many traffic lights you’ll pass and whether the route is “taken by many Grab drivers”, plus recommended parking near your destination.
There’s also PINTAZ, a free navigation app that describes itself as “made in Malaysia, by Malaysians”. It shows the toll for each route option before you set off, gives voice alerts for AES and JPJ cameras, and takes community reports of roadblocks, accidents, hazards and floods. Junctions and flyovers are drawn as 3D roads with lane-by-lane guidance, and its maps cover Sabah and Sarawak too.
Other touches include a motorcycle mode that follows motorcycle lanes, Malay and English voice guidance, and prayer times with a kiblat compass and nearby surau. It works with Apple CarPlay, though its Google Play listing doesn’t show Android Auto support. PINTAZ has no subscription or ads, and is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Other alternatives include HERE WeGo, on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and Huawei’s Petal Maps, on the Google Play Store.
Several other navigation apps run on maps from OpenStreetMap (OSM), a free map of the world that anyone can edit, much like Wikipedia. It was started in the UK in 2004 by Steve Coast, and volunteers build it by adding roads, buildings, shops and other places using GPS traces, aerial imagery and their own local knowledge. It has nearly 11 million registered users, and anyone can use the data for free as long as they credit OSM. Grab says data from its drivers, customers and merchants has added more than 800,000 km of missing roads to OSM across Southeast Asia, Rest of World reports.
Navigation apps that use OSM maps include:
- Organic Maps: free with no ads, works fully offline and supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. On the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- CoMaps: a not-for-profit offshoot of Organic Maps and MAPS.ME, also free with no ads, with CarPlay and Android Auto support. On the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- OsmAnd: works offline and can plan routes around your vehicle’s dimensions. It supports Android Auto, while CarPlay is a paid extra. On the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- Magic Earth: free turn-by-turn navigation with speed camera alerts, plus CarPlay and Android Auto support. Traffic-aware navigation and offline maps need a Premium subscription. On the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
- MAPS.ME: free offline maps with turn-by-turn navigation. On the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
Which app would you switch to from Waze?
Yeah you will be voted out soon for sure, more nonsense that no one gives a 5hit about. People will keep using waze its the best and most suitable for the region. Kiss my behind.
Might as well dont use GPS..see whether it will lead you to Timbuktu.
USA and Israel frequently share security details .
So,Ban all USA apps,chips,etc.?
PMX..go after more urgent things like spiralling costs of living,school student murders ,dadah etc
Half baked technology recruiting lab rats y’all!
It’s a careful move while the Israel Iran USA conflict hasnt been solved.
Ada Negara, baru ada Keluarga.
If he says TuJu won’t reroute after-work traffic through my taman I will sapot.
Please provide fund and invest into local app specialist to design a capable waze / Google maps / apple maps alternative. Really never hear of the Tuju app and the user review on this app is pathetic
BN – Benjamin Netanyahu
PN – Pengikut Netanyahu
Just use google map lah, as other navigation apps will lead to you not arriving the intended destination. You know Klang valley has so many flyovers and detours which all these alternative apps not covered/updated. Speaking of which, PMX should personally use TuJu before giving out blanket bans. Similarly YB Loke should take LRT every morning to see the situation especially when trains are having issues…
this will backfired for sure
Bruhhh… might as well ban Android phones because any Android and AOSP build that isn’t de-Googled will be constantly sending telemetry to Google, which can be obtained by NSA and Israel under “lawful access” for surveillance purposes.
Google stores all Android phones’ metadata traffic and location information, which they can then provide to US and Israeli agencies from Google’s Sensorvault and metadata repositories.
Sorry but I don’t trust gomen even more. Too corrupt
TV3’s Farah Nabila Wazer will have a hard time after this.
“israel linked” is just an excuse. Do you know what else is “israel linked” ? iphones, apple products.
this Waze ban seems very politically motivated. Election coming soon?
lets boycott those child killers war monger israel….consider China tech too which are based on Beidou & Glonass tech.
No, I’m going to continue using Waze. PMX anti-israel is his problem, not mine and i don’t need to support his agenda.
its is the case… list down all Israel tech and start stop using it.
sound like an attempt to monopoly
“TuJu used Google’s mapping and point-of-interest data”. TUJU should be banned too, Google has businesses with Israel Civilian & Military! Google also owned WAZE!
In the same time, also banned Microsoft, they have tie to Israel in many fronts too. Our gomen office can go back to 1959, stop using computer and go back using paper & pen
A quick research online found
1. R&D and Acquisitions: Google operates research and development centers in Israel and has acquired Israeli tech companies (such as Waze and the cybersecurity firm Wiz)
2. Project Nimbus: Google provides cloud-computing services to the Israeli government and military through Project Nimbus, alongside Amazon.
3. Startup Investments: Google has provided local grants and funding support for Israeli tech and AI startups
4. Microsoft operates local subsidiaries, software development centers, and cloud/AI services in Israel.
5. Government & Military Contracts: Microsoft provides software licensing, Azure cloud computing, and AI infrastructure to various Israeli government agencies, the Ministry of Defense, and military units (such as Unit 8200)
6. Investments in Israeli Startups: Microsoft’s venture capital arm has occasionally invested in Israeli tech startups (such as past investments in facial-recognition and analytics firms), though it has also divested from some due to policy and human rights reviews.
also ban tesla because its the most popular EV in isreal. also spacex is a weapons contractor used by juice. also ban microsoft because its being used by israel military.
i love google, iphone, instagram, twitter, microsoft and other israel technology
It’s all dumb until one day leaders of the government got assassinated like the Iranian leaders.
The idea is good, just that unfortunately Tuju is not proven production ready.
the driving reason itself isnt dumb. but as others have pointed out, not only waze but many other components also have ties to Zion , so how can we ban all ?