The blatant display and selling of illegal TV decoders in malls, is bound to get oneself into trouble very soon. Shop owners in Digital Mall, Petaling Jaya found this out the hard way, when enforcement agents raided their outlets and confiscated the Android boxes which is now considered illegal.
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has been clear on the prohibition of displaying or selling such items in the country, they are illegal and those found selling them can be fined or prisoned under the Communication Act. Despite the warnings, many continue to flout the law and sell these boxes openly, a quick stroll along Low Yat and Sunway Pyramid one can still find retailers displaying these Android boxes.
Back in Digital Mall, the government agency brought LC Marketing Network Media to the docks and had it fined RM15,000 while two of its directors – Chen Kaiyi, 34 and Yeak Wang Ying, 33 – were both fined RM10,000 each by Judge Mokhzani Mokhtar, after they pleaded guilty for owning 79 units of non-certified Android TV boxes of various models, with the intention to sell them.
They were charged under Regulation 16 of the Communications and Multimedia (Technical Standards) Regulations 2000, and Section 244 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
MCMC Head of Enforcement Dato’ Mohd Shafie Harun reminded the public to always be vigilant and responsible as usage of non-certified communications equipment could cause frequency disruptions to communications networks and affect the service quality.
The fight against the usage of illegal TV boxes is on going, with authorities embarking on efforts like education and walking the streets to address the matter. Users have been advised to only purchase and use communications equipment that has been certified by SIRIM.
