Malaysia restricts civil servants from using Waze mapping app

Malaysia's civil service has been directed to discontinue use of the Waze mapping application, with the government citing concerns over the app's ownership structure. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has advocated for TuJu, a locally-developed navigation platform, as a replacement option for public sector employees.

The decision reflects Malaysia's position on regional geopolitical issues and represents an effort to support domestic technology solutions. TuJu is designed to serve as a homegrown alternative that can fulfill similar navigation and mapping functions for government users.

The restriction applies specifically to civil servants, though it remains unclear whether the recommendation will extend to broader public usage. The move follows similar technology-related decisions by other governments seeking to localise digital infrastructure and reduce dependence on foreign applications.

Waze, which provides real-time traffic updates and navigation services, remains widely used across Southeast Asia. The application's parent company has operations in multiple regions, and questions around data governance and ownership have periodically drawn scrutiny from various governments in the area.