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6 Things You Do At Home That Could Get You In Trouble

6 Things You Do At Home That Could Get You In Trouble
6 Things You Do At Home That Could Get You In Trouble

Let’s say your WiFi connection at home suddenly becomes very unstable, and you’re waiting for the internet service provider to come over to fix it (they told you it should happen in the next seven working days).

However, you have a number of very large files that need to be sent urgently to your boss. Now, if you thought that you could try to “borrow” your neighbour’s WiFi for just a few minutes, we hope you know that it’s illegal.

Yup, the above scenario (and several other things) that you do at home can actually get you in big trouble. Time to read on and find out what else you shouldn’t be doing.

1) WiFi Hacking/Boosting

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) reported in 2014 that they had received complaints of devices being sold which could hack into WiFi connections.

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thingsyoudoathome-1

Piggybacking on your neighbour’s wireless internet is considered a crime as it’s an act of stealing someone’s online resources, thus, it is punishable by law.

How severe would the punishment be?

According to Section 239 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (“CMA”), anybody who sells or is found in possession of this device, will be fined up to RM100,000 and/or jailed up to 2 years.

Whereas for the one who buys, creates, or is found in possession of this device can also be charged under Section 232 of the CMA, and will be fined up to RM300,000 and/or jailed up to 3 years.

Now, it’s not just the usage of a special device that will be considered a crime; you can also be convicted if you use a WiFi connection that isn’t secured, such as one that doesn’t have a password.

So, the next time you’re thinking of parking yourself in your garden/balcony in the hopes that you can “borrow” your neighbour’s WiFi, just remember that you could be charged if found out.

2) Walking Around Naked

Okay, you might be thinking here, “But this is my private property, surely I can do whatever I want in the confines of my own space?”

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thingsyoudoathome2

While you’re right, this only applies to walking around naked with all the doors and curtains closed. But if someone outside your home (like a neighbour) were to catch sight of you, it’s considered nudity in public.

Not only would that be highly embarrassing for you, but it’s also considered an act of obscenity and public indecency, which could land you in hot water.

According to Section 294 of the Penal Code, if you were to commit an obscene act in a public space and it annoys others, you could be fined, jailed for up to three months, or both.

If you ever forget to bring your towel into the bathroom and you must make a mad dash to the cupboard/clothes rack, just make sure your curtains are closed… or crawl on the floor out of sight!

3) Taking/Sending Nude Content

And while we’re on the topic of nudity, it is also considered illegal if you were to take nude photos/videos of yourself at home, and not delete it immediately (you keep in your phone, for example).

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thingsyoudoathome-3

Under Section 292 of the Penal Code, anyone who is found with obscene materials in their possession would be punished with a fine, jailed for up to three years, or both.

And please, don’t go sending your nudes out to anyone either, not even your romantic partner/spouse. It’s not only dangerous, because you won’t know if the person can be trusted to keep it to himself/herself, but it’s also illegal!

You read that right; it may be your body and the photos were shot in your own home, but you’re not allowed to share and/or spread them.

There are actually FOUR laws regulating this aspect: Penal Code, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Film Censorship Act 2002, as well as Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

All of the above were created to deal with specific materials that contained content which are deemed as obscene, immoral, or against public interest.

This all means that if you were to take nude photos of yourself and also send them to someone, you’d actually be facing a much heavier penalty for committing two crimes… all while at home!

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PGMY_banner

4) Making Too Much Noise

Again, you might be wondering why you wouldn’t be allowed to make as much noise as you want to, so long as it’s in the privacy of your own home. After all, surely the closed doors and windows would mean no one could possibly hear you, right?

Wrong.

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thingsyoudoathome4

Did you know that for a home to be fully soundproofed, you would need lots of special materials and plenty of money to blow?

This is because you need to create dead air (think of a void) via hung walls as well as a suspended floor and ceiling, all of which stop sound waves from entering or exiting the space.

If anyone were to decide that they’d like to march around their home at midnight while banging on the drums to let off some steam during the MCO (Movement Control Order), just know that you’ll be charged under Section 13 of the Minor Offences Act 1955:

“Any person who beats within the limits of any town or village between the hours of 12am and 6am or in any public road or public place at any hour, a drum or tom-tom, or blows a horn or trumpet, or beats or sounds any instrument or utensil in such a manner as to cause annoyance or inconvenience to occupants of any premises in the vicinity.”

Therefore, if you need to go banging all the pots and pans on the stove while trying to whip up a meal, do so at a more reasonable hour and not when the neighbourhood is asleep.

5) Open Burning

Unfortunately, we still see many instances of people burning their rubbish and/or unwanted items in their property, despite it being a very dangerous thing to do.

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thingsyoudoathome-7

Not only are you subjecting your loved ones and neighbours to the health hazards of thick smoke (which can sometimes be poisonous due to certain materials in your trash), you’re also running the risk of burning a few properties down in the event there’s a sudden strong gust of wind.

Case in point: Someone thought it would be a good idea to start burning rubbish at an illegal dumpsite in Ipoh, Perak, but the fire got too big and it took firemen two days to completely put out the flames.

And if someone in your neighbourhood were to report you (which they should), under the Minor Offences Act 1955, you’d be fined RM50.

6) Attempting To Take Own Life

We apologise for this morbid point, and we hope that no one would resort to doing this (please, do seek immediate help and emotional support through some of these legitimate hotlines).

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thingsyoudoathome-5

If someone were to try and commit suicide, and is not successful, that person would be considered to have committed an offence.

Under Section 309 of the Penal Code, anyone who does an act that can be deemed as suicidal, will be fined, jailed for up to a year, or both.

BONUS: Men Getting Carnal Intercourse

Carnal intercourse = oral sex. We’re not joking, and we’re not going into details here; the sub-header alone is enough to explain everything.

Under Section 377A of the Penal Code, it is considered to be an act which goes against the order of nature, thus it is illegal (your own bedroom does not protect you from this).

It doesn’t matter if it was consensual (read: both parties were willing), you could be punished with a jail term of up to 20 years, and even be liable for whipping. So, fair warning here, guys and gals!

The More You Know, The Better

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thingsyoudoathome-6

Knowledge is power, so the saying goes, and this article aims to educate you on some of the things you should try to stay away from at home.

You see, you need to ensure that you’re careful with your actions as they could affect others around you, while at the same protecting your loved ones.

So now that you know how to avoid breaking the law or being fined by these acts, why not share this article with your friends and family so that they are in the know too (especially to your supermodel-wannabe jiran who likes to walk around naked in their home).

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