Malaysia has immediately banned civil servants from using the navigation app Waze, citing data security concerns over its Israeli origins and jurisdiction under Israeli laws. Following a National Cyber Security Committee meeting, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged citizens to adopt TuJu, a domestic mapping application developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority. The decision reflects broader digital sovereignty efforts and aligns with Malaysia's lack of diplomatic relations with Israel.
Malaysian government restrictions and warnings on Waze
- ▪An official with the Malaysian Prime Minister's Department confirmed the authenticity of the October 20, 2026 government directive banning civil servants from using Waze
- ▪Malaysia's Chief Secretary to the Government, Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, issued a letter dated October 20, 2026, barring all civil servants from using the navigation app Waze with immediate effect
- ▪Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim advised citizens against using Waze due to potential data security risks and concerns that the app is subject to Israeli laws
National cybersecurity committee meeting
- ▪During a National Cyber Security Committee meeting held on Oct 21, the Malaysian government reviewed cyber threats, autonomous AI risks, and measures to strengthen digital preparedness and sovereignty
- ▪Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim chaired a National Cyber Security Committee meeting where officials discussed potential risks of Waze monitoring Malaysian citizens' data
Diplomatic stances on Israel
- ▪Muslim-majority Malaysia does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel and maintains a diplomatic stance supporting the Palestinian cause
- ▪Like Malaysia, Iraq is a Muslim-majority country that does not formally recognize the state of Israel
Security of Malaysia's digital identity system
- ▪The Malaysian government is strengthening its integrated identity system by utilizing MyKad as a physical credential and MyDigital ID for digital transaction verification
- ▪Malaysia's National Cyber Security Committee reviewed the security of MyDigital ID to ensure digitalized public services remain secure without compromising national trust
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