Malaysians Urge Government to Improve Local Navigation Apps Before Replacing Waze

Plans to restrict or ban navigation app Waze have drawn calls for caution, with Malaysian users saying locally developed alternatives must be reliable and user-friendly before the public is expected to switch.

While supporting efforts to promote homegrown technology, users interviewed by Sinar Harian stressed that local apps need to match the accuracy, speed and convenience of established services.

Local Navigation Apps Face Pressure to Match Waze’s Speed and Accuracy

Retiree Fauzi Pasilon, 54, said local applications should be upgraded before users are encouraged to abandon platforms they already know. He noted that Google Maps could serve as an alternative, but said Malaysian-developed options still needed improvement to meet public expectations.

Banker Siti Nor Hasima Mohd Yusof, 37, similarly said she continued using Waze because it made route planning faster and more convenient. She added that a local navigation app she had tried took too long to access.

Private-sector employee Muhazri Yahya, 32, said local apps could gain wider acceptance if developers invested seriously in technology and stability.

He described trying a local option but returning to Waze after experiencing difficulties finding routes. The feedback highlights a key challenge for digital policy: encouraging local innovation while ensuring alternatives are practical enough for everyday use.

Malaysians say local navigation apps must offer reliable routes and faster access before users can be expected to leave Waze.

#latestmalaysia