Anwar apologises over Waze ban linked to Israel, says national security comes first

Anwar apologises over Waze ban linked to Israel, says national security comes first

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mingles with congregants while attending Friday prayers at Masjid Al-Mustaqim in Taman Nirwana in Kuala Lumpur, October 23, 2026. — Bernama pic


Summary

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim apologised for any inconvenience caused by the ban on a navigation app linked to Israel, emphasising national security needs.
• Anwar stated that the app ban was essential to uphold national sovereignty and protect citizen data from potential misuse.
• The government banned civil servants from using the Waze app, considering local alternatives to ensure data protection from linked Israeli entities.

First Published: Friday, 23 Oct 2026 7:37 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has apologised if the decision to ban a navigation application owned by an entity linked to the Israeli regime causes any inconvenience to the public.

In a Facebook post, Anwar said this firm measure had to be taken to ensure the security of the nation and its people, a matter that cannot be compromised under any circumstances.

“I apologise if the decision to ban this navigation application, which belongs to the Israeli regime, causes inconvenience to the public.

“However, the security of the nation and its people cannot be compromised, as we must uphold national sovereignty and protect the personal information of our citizens,” he said.


Earlier, the prime minister indicated that the government has not ruled out the possibility of a complete ban on the use of the navigation application Waze in Malaysia.

He noted that such a move could be considered once the government has evaluated alternatives to Waze, including the potential for local development of a similar, fully functional application.

Last Wednesday, the government decided to prohibit all civil servants from using the navigation application Waze, in order to safeguard government information and users' personal data against the threat of misuse by the Israeli regime. — Bernama