Missing a highway exit is annoying enough. Missing it because your navigation app did not tell you which lane to take is a much harder sell—especially when that app is being promoted as your next daily driving companion.
That is the challenge facing TuJu after the government urged Malaysians to move away from Waze. The debate involves national security, a public–private development partnership and a basic question for drivers: will the alternative get us there reliably?
First, Waze has not been banned for everyone
NACSA’s official FAQ says the restriction applies to civil servants while carrying out official government duties. The directive followed the National Cyber Security Committee’s meeting on 20 October.
Civil servants are also encouraged to uninstall Waze. The wider public has been urged to switch, but that recommendation is different from a blanket prohibition on Malaysians using the app.
The government’s concern centres on location and movement data, and the legal jurisdiction governing the service. NACSA points to Waze Mobile Ltd’s Israeli incorporation and terms specifying Israeli law and courts in Tel Aviv.
Repeated location records can reveal routines and movement patterns. However, NACSA’s FAQ also acknowledges there is no evidence that Waze conducts the particular analysis it describes. The stated rationale is a potential security risk, rather than published proof of that activity.
Waze has disputed the allegations. In a response reported by TNGlobal on 22 October, it denied collecting sensitive government information or allowing entities to exploit users’ personal data, and said it follows strict privacy policies.
TuJu is a partnership, not simply an app made inside a ministry
TuJu’s own website identifies it as a collaboration between the Malaysian Highway Authority, or LLM, and Prosignal Consortium Sdn Bhd, dating back to 2022. It describes a combination of Prosignal’s technical expertise and LLM’s highway operations experience.
Prosignal says it was incorporated in 2021 and is based in Cyberjaya. Its published leadership page lists Mohd Edzreen Mohd Din as deputy chairman/managing director, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari as executive director, and Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani as a non-executive director, among others.
Those are the company’s published leadership positions. They should not be confused with a verified list of shareholders or ultimate beneficial owners.
Clear disclosure of the project’s costs, procurement process and responsibilities would also help users understand what the public–private arrangement delivers. That is a transparency standard to ask for, rather than evidence of wrongdoing by the company or anyone on its board.
For users, the partnership’s obvious opportunity is access to useful highway information. TuJu has been presented with features including highway CCTV, toll information, rest-area facilities and emergency assistance. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo has said its traffic coverage is being expanded beyond highways to ordinary roads.
That expansion matters: most journeys do not begin at a toll plaza or end at an R&R.
There is another useful distinction. Paul Tan’s launch report in November 2025 said TuJu used Google mapping and place data. That describes the launch version, rather than a verified audit of today’s system, but it shows why “locally developed” should not be taken to mean every underlying service is built or operated locally.
The first job is getting the directions right
SoyaCincau’s published test on 22 October reported confusing turn instructions, missing lane guidance and instances of raw HTML appearing where directions should be. Its reviewers also found no native Android Auto or Apple CarPlay navigation support in the versions tested.
These are attributed test findings, not a Sorakumy road test, and subsequent updates may change the experience.
Still, they identify practical priorities. Drivers need timely exit instructions, clear lane positioning, accurate destination searches and dependable rerouting. A missed junction can mean extra distance, fuel and time. Repeatedly checking a confusing screen adds distraction.
Traffic cameras are useful, but seeing a highway through CCTV is not the same thing as having reliable traffic-aware routing throughout a journey. TuJu needs to make that distinction clear—and deliver both where it promises them.
A surge in downloads needs a service that can cope
LLM has acknowledged disruptions following a sharp increase in users. In its statement reported by RTM on 22 October, the authority said it was working with Prosignal to restore stability, increase capacity and address feedback on navigation and route accuracy.
That response is welcome. The next useful step is a visible improvement record: what was fixed, which app version includes it, and whether the same problems recur under heavy use.
Car-screen integration also deserves attention. A navigation app should be convenient to hear and follow without encouraging drivers to keep reaching for their phones.
“Local” still needs a clear privacy explanation
TuJu’s published privacy policy says it collects location and usage information, and may share information with mapping, cloud and other service providers. It also discusses transaction data for toll-payment functionality; that description alone does not establish which payment features are currently available.
The policy displayed when checked carries an effective date of 1 September 2023. Given the current security-led promotion, an up-to-date explanation would help: who processes which data, where, for how long, and how users can delete it.
TuJu could strengthen confidence by publishing clear data-flow information and the scope and results of independent security assessments. A Malaysian developer and a government partnership identify who is involved; they do not, by themselves, demonstrate every privacy safeguard.
Pintaz is another Malaysian option—with its own trade-offs
PINTAZ’s Malaysian App Store listing names Muhammad Danish Syahmi Norisham as its developer and describes it as made in Malaysia, by Malaysians.
Its advertised features include toll estimates, community road reports, lane guidance and Malay and English voices. Its website says Apple CarPlay is available, while Android Auto is forthcoming. Android phone availability should therefore not be mistaken for Android Auto support.
The developer says Pintaz is free, without subscriptions or advertising. Its privacy policy offers guest mode and says location is not collected when the app is closed. It also describes traffic-speed sampling during active navigation and the omission of the first and last 500 metres of trips from those samples.
These are the developer’s stated practices, not an independent security certification. The App Store disclosure lists data that may be linked to users, so Pintaz deserves the same permission checks and real-world route testing as any competitor.
You have more than two choices
Google Maps is another option; Gobind has said civil servants can use alternatives rather than being required to choose TuJu. Google’s offline-map feature can help when connectivity drops, although offline driving lacks live traffic information and alternative routes.
HERE WeGo is also worth considering for downloaded-map navigation. Its official guidance covers both CarPlay and Android Auto, and explains that maps must be downloaded and offline mode enabled beforehand. Features and coverage should be checked for the intended journey.
For an official trip, follow your department’s instructions. For an everyday drive, compare the route, car-screen support and permissions before leaving, then try unfamiliar software on a familiar journey first.
TuJu has an opportunity to turn official highway information into something genuinely useful. Earning a permanent place on the dashboard will depend on the next exit instruction being clear, the route being dependable, and the privacy explanation being as easy to follow as the map.