TuJu vs Waze: Why YAB Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim Wants Malaysians to Consider the Local Navigation App?

Prime Minister YAB Dato' Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim has encouraged Malaysians to consider TuJu, a locally developed highway navigation app, as an alternative to Waze, citing concerns about personal data security and information about citizens’ movements.

In a Facebook post on October 20, Anwar said the issue was discussed during the third meeting of the National Cyber Security Committee (JKSN) for 2026, which focused on reviewing cyber threats and strengthening Malaysia’s cybersecurity preparedness and digital sovereignty.

According to Anwar, concerns stem from Waze being subject to Israeli government laws. He stressed that protecting Malaysians’ personal information and identities remains a priority as the country expands its digital services. 

The recommendation has brought renewed attention to TuJu, an app developed through a collaboration between the Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM) and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd. While Waze is widely used for everyday navigation, TuJu focuses particularly on Malaysia’s highways and offers several features designed to help motorists plan their journeys.

TuJu provides route guidance, estimated arrival times and travel information, alongside features that are particularly useful for highway users. One of its key features is toll fare calculation, which allows motorists to check the estimated toll charges for their journeys. The app also displays toll plazas along selected routes, helping drivers plan their travel expenses before setting off.

Motorists can also search for rest and recreation areas (R&R) and highway lay-bys to check available facilities. Depending on the location, these may include petrol stations, food outlets, restrooms, surau and electric vehicle charging facilities.

Another feature is access to highway CCTV images, allowing users to check conditions at selected locations before or during their journeys. The app also provides traffic updates from LLM’s Traffic Management Centre (TMC), giving motorists another source of information when planning their routes.

For emergencies, TuJu offers quick access to relevant assistance contacts. It also links to the Ministry of Works’ MyJalan app, which motorists can use to report road damage and other road-related issues.

TuJu vs Waze: What Is the Difference?

Although both apps help motorists navigate roads, their features and areas of focus differ.

Waze is known for its community-driven approach to navigation, with drivers contributing reports about traffic congestion, accidents, road hazards and other incidents. These reports help users make route decisions while travelling.

TuJu, meanwhile, places greater emphasis on highway-related information in Malaysia, bringing together navigation, toll calculations, R&R facilities, highway CCTV access and official traffic updates in one app.

Here is how the two compare:

Navigation and estimated arrival time: Both apps offer route guidance and estimated arrival times.

Traffic updates: Waze is known for its community-reported traffic conditions and road alerts, while TuJu incorporates highway traffic information from LLM and other data sources.

Toll charges: TuJu provides toll fare calculations for journeys, making it useful for motorists who want to estimate their highway expenses in advance.

Rest stops and facilities: TuJu provides information about R&R areas, petrol stations and other facilities along highways.

Highway CCTV: TuJu provides access to selected highway camera views, offering an additional way to check road conditions.

Road incident reporting and assistance: TuJu includes emergency contact information and a link to MyJalan for reporting road-related problems.

Data security concerns: Anwar’s recommendation to consider TuJu is partly driven by concerns about the security of Malaysians’ movement data and the legal jurisdiction associated with Waze. However, this concern should not be interpreted as proof that Waze has suffered a data breach or that TuJu automatically guarantees greater privacy.

So, should Malaysians Switch from Waze to TuJu?

For motorists who regularly use Malaysia’s highways, TuJu may be worth exploring, particularly if they want toll estimates, information about rest stops and access to highway camera images in one place.

Waze may remain appealing to drivers who rely heavily on community-generated traffic reports and road hazard alerts. The most suitable option will depend on individual travel habits, and which features matter most to each driver.

It is also important to distinguish the government’s stated security concerns from independently established findings about an app’s data practices. Users should review each app’s privacy policy and data permissions before deciding which navigation service best meets their needs.

Source / Image Credit : TuJu , wiser , Awani