Malaysia limits Waze ban to civil servants, leaves further measures open
Officials say the phased approach prioritises public awareness while balancing security concerns with individual freedoms.
Malaysia is restricting Waze use by civil servants without extending the ban to everyone, National Security Council director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin said. He described the restriction as one stage in the government's response to security concerns involving the app.
Speaking at a press conference in Cyberjaya, Raja Nushirwan said authorities were concentrating on public awareness and would evaluate the initial approach before deciding whether additional action was needed. He said security considerations had to be weighed against human rights and freedoms of expression and choice.
Asked about the possibility of a future Waze ban, he declined to rule out further action on national security grounds. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had directed government employees to stop using the app and urged members of the public to follow suit, citing concerns about Israel potentially exploiting sensitive government information and personal data.
National Cyber Security Agency chief executive officer Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin said Iran had blocked Waze and China had introduced some restrictions. He reiterated that Malaysia's measure covered civil servants rather than the population as a whole.
