Consult experts before banning Waze, DAP’s Yeo urges govt

Former minister Yeo Bee Yin has urged Malaysian authorities to seek expert advice before considering a ban on the popular Waze navigation app. The DAP publicity secretary emphasized that such a decision should not be taken hastily, as it would impact six million road users who rely on Waze for various purposes, including their livelihoods and daily commutes.

Addressing concerns about the app's Israeli origins, Yeo questioned why Gulf Cooperation Council countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar have not imposed similar bans. She argued that a reactive ban could lead to public disruption, economic friction for the gig economy, and damage to Malaysia's digital reputation.

Yeo called on the National Security Council to consult with industry experts and stakeholders before deciding on the appropriate course of action. She also inquired if the Malaysian government had approached Waze's US-based parent company, Alphabet, to explore the possibility of hosting Malaysian data on local servers instead of a blanket ban.

While acknowledging alternative options like Google Maps, Yeo pointed out that many commuters use multiple navigation apps to plan their journeys effectively. He also criticized the use of TuJu as a Waze substitute, questioning whether the government realistically expects a government agency like the Malaysian Highway Authority to develop and maintain a crowd-sourced navigation platform on par with global tech giants.

Yeo highlighted that even in South Korea, where restrictions on full offshore hosting for Google Maps and Waze exist, viable local alternatives like Naver Map and KakaoMap were built and scaled by large domestic tech conglomerates, not government agencies. The Malaysian government has already banned Waze usage by civil servants and is weighing a complete ban, citing concerns that Israel may misuse government information and users' personal data.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had urged the public to switch to local alternatives such as TuJu, which has faced criticism from users and tech experts who raised privacy concerns.