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We’re in love, says runaway

IPOH: A necklace, a ring and love. That was enough reason for a 13-year-old girl to defiantly stand by her decision to have sex with her teenage boyfriend despite being told off by her family members.

”We're in love. I don't think what I did was wrong. How can it be when it is something personal between the two of us?” the girl told reporters here yesterday.

The Form One student said she met her 16-year-old lover, a school dropout who is now a cook in Kuala Lumpur, through Facebook.

”He bought me a necklace and a ring after we started going out last November,” said the girl, whose relationship became known to her family when she went missing for three days last month.

Her brother, who only wished to be known as Lee, said his sister had refused to return home, and the boy's family subsequently handed her over to the police.

“She later confessed to the relationship and that she had had sex with the boy but we decided to let it go. They are still young and we did not want them to get into trouble with the law,” Lee, 29, said.

“The reason we have come to the press is to create awareness on what is happening to our youths these days.”

Perak Barisan Nasional Public Services and Complaints Centre chief Mohd Rawi Abdullah said it was the fifth case he had encountered since last year.

“All of the cases involved teenage girls and their boyfriends. This is a worrying situation as they are oblivious to the fact that their actions are wrong and that having sex with a minor is considered statutory rape,” said Mohd Rawi.

He urged parents to monitor their children's activities, especially when they surf the Internet. “Get hold of their passwords and check on their online activities,” he said.