THE availability of a reliable alternative and a comprehensive assessment of data security will determine whether Malaysia proceeds with a ban on navigation application Waze, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
He said the government would study alternative navigation applications before deciding whether to extend restrictions on Waze beyond the current directive affecting civil servants.
Anwar said his concerns centred on Waze’s Israeli headquarters and the application’s terms, which he claimed placed consumer-related matters under Israeli law rather than the laws of other countries.
“When I received the information, we reviewed it. First, Waze is headquartered in Israel.
“Second, under its agreement, only Israeli law applies to the regulation of Waze’s consumer terms, with no other country’s laws applying,” he said at a press conference in Ampang today.
Anwar said these concerns had prompted him to act without delay, claiming that the application automatically transferred users’ information to Israel.
He stressed that the government would not compromise on national sovereignty and security.
The government has recommended a locally developed navigation application as an alternative, but Anwar said a broader prohibition on Waze would be considered only after a comprehensive review of replacement options.
No nationwide ban has been confirmed. - October 23, 2026
