Govt must prove Waze a security risk, says PAS sec-gen

 Takiyuddin Hassan also questions how the ban would be implemented.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said there is no proof that Waze poses a security risk to the country, and the burden of proof lies with the government. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA:

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan said the onus lies on the government to prove that Waze poses security risks, even as the current administration mulls a complete ban of the navigation app.

“There is no proof at the moment. The burden of proof lies with the government,” the former law minister told CNA.

Takiyuddin said while he supported the ban, which currently only applies to civil servants, he wondered how it would be implemented.

On Friday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government may consider a blanket ban on Waze if locally developed navigation apps prove to be adequate.

He maintained that national security must take precedence, and that he believed Israel could soon use its influence against Malaysia.

“We are among the nations strongly against Israel’s cruel Zionist regime. Our actions are certainly being monitored. I believe that after this, they will use all their influence to attack us,” he was quoted as saying.

Anwar later said the ban on civil servants using Waze was to prevent Israel from misusing government information and users’ personal data.

Waze has since denied claims it collected sensitive government information or allows any party to exploit users’ personal data.

On Saturday, former minister Yeo Bee Yin urged the government to consult industry experts and navigation technology specialists before moving to ban Waze. - FMT