Source : @GobindSinghDeo
KUALA LUMPUR, October 23, 2026 – Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has clarified that the government’s ban on the Waze navigation app applies only to civil servants while they are carrying out official government business, and does not extend to members of the public.
“I would like to clarify that the directive banning the use of the Waze navigation application only applies to civil servants while carrying out official government business, and does not involve members of the public,” Gobind said in a post on his X account on the night of October 22.
He explained that the security measure was taken following concerns over the international legal provisions that bind users of the platform, “particularly in ensuring that the security of information and the interests of the government are always protected.”
“The Ministry of Digital will continue to prioritise digital security and the protection of information in the administration of government affairs,” he added, tagging the post #Waze, #Malaysia and #Cybersecurity.
Gobind’s post followed his answers in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday, October 22, where he told lawmakers during Minister’s Question Time that the restriction covers government employees and civil servants as defined under the Federal Constitution. “It does not apply to all Malaysians. Secondly, it only applies to official matters,” he said, as reported by Malaysiakini.
The minister told the House that the ban stemmed from concerns over data security and legal jurisdiction, as Waze’s terms of service state that Israeli law governs the application. He said Malaysians could face difficulties seeking legal recourse in Israel if a dispute arose, and that users’ movements could still be determined through the app even when it was not actively in use, according to reports by The Edge Malaysia and The Vibes.
Gobind also stressed in Parliament that civil servants are not restricted to the locally developed TuJu app. “There is no statement saying that we can only use TuJu. We can still use other applications, such as Google Maps,” he said. He noted that TuJu, developed with the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), was originally designed to monitor highway traffic, toll plazas and rest and service areas, and has since been expanded, adding that the ministry has taken note of public complaints about the app.
The ban was decided by the National Cyber Security Committee, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and conveyed in a letter dated October 20 by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, who directed all secretaries-general and heads of departments to implement it immediately. Anwar announced the decision publicly on October 21, saying it was meant to protect government information and users’ personal data.
A frequently asked questions document on the directive, reported by The Star, said the civil servants covered are those defined under Article 132(1) of the Federal Constitution, including the armed forces, the judicial and legal services, the general public service of the Federation, the police, joint public services, state public services and the education service. It listed TuJu and PINTAZ as local navigation alternatives and encouraged civil servants to uninstall Waze from their devices.
Waze was developed in Israel before Google acquired it in 2013. Malaysia does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Source: Gobind Singh Deo on X
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