The government has imposed an immediate ban on Waze for all civil servants amid concerns over information security and the handling of users’ movement data under Israeli law.
Following the announcement, National Security Council (MKN) Director-General Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin warned that civil servants who fail to comply with the directive could face disciplinary action.
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Govt gives public time to understand Waze security risks before further action
Raja Nushirwan also urged all civil servants to stop using Waze immediately to prevent their movement data from being further exploited by external parties.
He said the directive is being closely monitored by department heads at the ministry and agency levels.
“There are procedures for implementing the directive, but generally, we leave it to the respective department heads. However, violating any directive issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar could result in disciplinary action,” he said, as quoted by Harian Metro.
Meanwhile, the government is taking a phased approach to address data security concerns, with a focus on public education while respecting Malaysians’ freedom of choice.
Raja Nushirwan explained that the decision not to immediately block Waze is intended to give the public a better understanding of the potential security risks before deciding whether to continue using the app.
“We are leaving it to Malaysians to make their own choices”
Raja Nushirwan also encouraged Malaysians to uninstall Waze and consider switching to local alternatives such as TuJu, which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has recommended as an alternative navigation app.
He explained that the government is taking a phased approach to address security concerns while allowing the public to make their own decisions about which apps to use.
“We must always strike a balance between security concerns and issues involving human rights, freedom of speech and freedom of choice. With the approach we have taken, we are leaving it to Malaysians to make their own choices,” he said.
He added that an immediate ban on Waze could send a negative signal to the country’s wider app development ecosystem and information and communications technology (ICT) sector.
He said the effectiveness of the approach would be reviewed from time to time, with any further action depending on the prevailing security situation.
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Also read: M’sian MPs Question Waze Ban for Civil Servants, Ask If Other Apps Pose Similar Security Risks
