Civil servants could face disciplinary action for defying Waze directive

Civil servants in Cyberjaya are under threat of disciplinary action for disobeying a directive to cease using the Waze app, according to National Security Council director-general Datuk Raja Nushirwan Zainal Abidin. The directive, issued by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, came into force immediately following its announcement.

While the agency aims to implement the rule in different ways, individual discretion is generally respected. However, any breach of this directive carries consequences, as stated by Raja Nushirwan during a press conference. National Cyber Security Agency chief executive officer Dr Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin elaborated that the restriction is primarily for civil servants using Waze for official purposes, but its impact extends beyond official use.

He emphasized that our movements and data, even outside official duties, can be utilized, including by Malaysians in general. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently ordered civil servants to abandon Waze and urged the public to do the same, highlighting fears that sensitive government information and personal data might fall into the wrong hands, especially Israel.