BDS Malaysia endorses civil service Waze ban, calls for wider boycott

KUALA LUMPUR — BDS Malaysia has voiced support for the government's decision to restrict civil service use of Waze, extending its call for a broader public boycott of the navigation application.

The movement, which campaigns against Israeli entities and companies, cited concerns over the app's ownership and operations as grounds for the endorsement. The organisation framed the civil service directive as an important step and encouraged all Malaysians to consider discontinuing their use of the platform.

The ban on civil servants accessing Waze reflects growing scrutiny of technology platforms with Israeli connections within Malaysia's government sector. BDS Malaysia has previously mounted campaigns targeting various international companies and services, positioning the Waze restriction as consistent with broader efforts to align corporate engagement with political objectives.

The organisation's statement comes as part of ongoing BDS activities across the region, which have gained increased visibility in recent months. Malaysian authorities have not issued comprehensive public guidance on the rationale behind the civil service restriction, though the BDS endorsement underscores the geopolitical dimensions underlying such policy decisions.

The extent to which the boycott call may influence Malaysian consumer behaviour remains unclear, though BDS activism has maintained a presence in Southeast Asian civil society discussions.