Anwar Ibrahim Urges Malaysians to Choose TuJu Over Waze

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on motorists nationwide to replace Waze with the homegrown navigation platform TuJu, citing concerns regarding public movement tracking and data security. Speaking following a National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) meeting held on 20 October 2026, Anwar stated that Waze remains subject to Israeli legal jurisdiction, introducing potential sovereignty vulnerabilities as driver locations are mapped. TuJu, launched in November 2025 by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd, offers local route planning, live toll rate calculation, and highway surveillance camera feeds across iOS and Android devices.

Key Facts

Why Is the Malaysian Government Questioning Waze's Security?

The Malaysian government has raised security concerns because Waze was originally developed in Israel and allegedly remains bound by Israeli legal statutes. Although Google acquired Waze in 2013 for nearly US$1 billion, the platform continuously aggregates driver coordinates, search queries, destinations, and device telematics, which authorities warn could map critical domestic movement patterns.

During the JKSN session reviewing national cyber readiness, Anwar indicated that foreign legal oversight of crowdsourced location data poses potential risks to public information security. While the administration stopped short of detailing specific exploited vulnerabilities or evidence of data misuse, the advisory mirrors actions abroad; Iraq announced earlier this month that it plans to ban Waze entirely by December 2026 under communications directives citing its origin.

Waze aggregates user routes, search histories, and location data under privacy provisions that the Malaysian government argues create foreign surveillance and data sovereignty concerns.

What Is TuJu and How Does It Compare to Waze?

TuJu is a dedicated Malaysian highway navigation application introduced in November 2025 through a collaboration between LLM and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd. Derived from the Malay word for direction, the software matches standard mapping functions such as turn-by-turn routing, arrival estimates, and incident reporting while adding specialized local highway transit utilities.

Unlike standard global mapping services, TuJu incorporates direct integrations with local highway infrastructure. Drivers can calculate total toll charges along specific routes, locate toll plazas, view rest and service areas (R&R), and inspect amenities at nearby petrol stations. The app also streams highway CCTV snapshot feeds directly to drivers to verify physical traffic congestion before departure.

TuJu differentiates itself from foreign competitors by integrating highway CCTV snapshots, toll plaza fare calculations, and rest stop facility locators directly into local navigation routes.

How Does This Align With Malaysia's Broader Cybersecurity Policy?

The recommendation to switch navigation apps coincides with a broader push to harden critical infrastructure under the Cyber Security Act 2024. Chaired by Anwar, the JKSN reviewed measures safeguarding National Critical Information Infrastructure (NCII), the physical MyKad credential ecosystem, and MyDigital ID verification services against automated AI threats and quantum decryption vectors.

Government initiatives are simultaneously expanding into online identity verification. Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil confirmed the administration is assessing electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) mandates and strict age controls on gaming platforms to curb radicalisation and protect minors as public administrative services migrate to centralized digital frameworks.

National cybersecurity priorities have expanded to safeguard digital identities and critical information infrastructure against foreign software exposures and emerging quantum computing risks.

What It Means for Malaysian Buyers

For Malaysian road users, TuJu presents a free, locally hosted alternative to Waze and Google Maps, available immediately via the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Motorists who rely on expressways stand to benefit from accurate, real-time toll rate breakdowns and CCTV camera access that third-party platforms do not offer natively.

However, the government has issued an advisory encouragement rather than an outright regulatory ban. Drivers who depend on dense, crowd-sourced urban reporting for non-highway city commutes must weigh TuJu's highway-focused utilities against Waze's wider community reporting network. No disruptions to Waze network connectivity or telco-level blocks have been enacted by local service providers.

Malaysian road users can install TuJu without charge on Android and iOS to access toll calculators and highway camera feeds, while Waze remains fully operational across domestic networks.

Common Questions

Is Waze officially banned in Malaysia?

No, Waze is not banned in Malaysia. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has encouraged motorists to migrate to the domestic app TuJu over data security concerns, but no service blocks or regulatory prohibitions have been implemented.

What features does TuJu have that Waze lacks?

TuJu offers highway-specific tools developed alongside LLM, including journey toll rate calculators, rest and service area amenity guides, toll plaza directories, and snapshots from official highway CCTV monitoring cameras to verify road traffic.

Who developed the TuJu navigation app?

TuJu was developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) in partnership with Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd. It was officially launched in November 2025 and is distributed via Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Sources and Methodology

Compiled from reporting by Lowyat.NET published on 21 October 2026, based on public disclosures by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim following the National Cyber Security Committee meeting, along with background reporting from Al Jazeera. Foreign currency valuations for Google's 2013 acquisition of Waze are calculated at an estimated conversion rate of US$1 to RM4.40.