Yeo gesa kerajaan rujuk pakar sebelum haramkan Waze

Former minister Yeo Bee Yin has urged authorities to consult industry and navigation technology experts before banning the popular navigation app Waze in Malaysia. In a statement, Yeo expressed concern that such a sudden decision could adversely affect six million road users who rely on Waze for earning a living, daily commutes or logistics.

Acknowledging the app's origins in Israel, Yeo questioned why GCC member countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates had not implemented similar bans. She pointed out that countries with strong security protocols and conflict zones were also not banning Waze. Yeo further questioned whether the government expected an elite body like the Malaysian Road Transport Institute (LLM) to create, optimize and manage a user-generated navigation platform on par with global tech companies.

She also pointed out that developing a robust navigation system and ensuring up-to-date map data requires large-scale operations, continuous technology upgrades and a team of specialized engineers. Yeo referenced South Korea where locally developed navigation apps, such as Naver Map and KakaoMap, were created and developed by homegrown tech firms, rather than government agencies.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had recently instructed public servants to stop using Waze due to concerns over sensitive government information and personal data being exploited by Israel.