MELAKA, Oct 24, 2026 — Malaysia is considering restrictions on the use of the Waze navigation application by civil servants, with national security, sovereignty and the protection of sensitive government movements among the key concerns, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said as reported by Bernama.

Anwar said the proposal was not intended to impose an immediate blanket ban on the application but reflected the need to assess potential risks, particularly for government officers involved in national security matters.

He explained that the concerns extended beyond the navigation application itself to its association with a company headquartered in Israel, as well as questions over legal jurisdiction should disputes arise involving international companies.

Speaking at the Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate announcement and election machinery launch for the upcoming Melaka state election at Stadium Hang Jebat, Anwar said the government would evaluate available alternatives before deciding whether broader restrictions were necessary.

He also acknowledged public concerns over the performance of TuJu, a locally developed navigation application proposed as an alternative to Waze.

Anwar conceded that shortcomings remained in the implementation of measures concerning Waze and said improvements were needed.

He stressed that the government could not overlook national security considerations or leave matters affecting Malaysia’s national interests entirely to external parties.

“If there is a better alternative, the government will study it,” he said.

Anwar added that any decision must safeguard Malaysia’s national interests and remain consistent with the country’s position on Israel’s actions and the Palestinian issue.

Meanwhile, the prime minister reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining the price of RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre for as long as the MADANI Government retained its mandate, despite rising global crude oil prices.

He said the government had chosen to absorb the additional costs rather than transfer the burden to consumers, particularly those from low- and middle-income groups.

“It is better for the government to bear the burden than to burden the people,” he said.

Anwar made the remarks after announcing 21 PH candidates for the Melaka state election, scheduled for Nov 14.