ALOR STAR, MALAYSIA: Of the 309 rape cases reported in Kedah last year, 187 involved girls as young as 12 to 16 who were said to be willing sex partners.

Kedah police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said police had classified the cases, which occurred mostly in rural areas, as statutory rape as the girls were underage.

"Most of the cases involved their boyfriends.

"We view this very seriously and urge parents, community leaders and also schools to work together with us to curb the problem.

"We also call on parents to monitor their children's activities to prevent them from becoming victims," he said after attending the monthly morning assembly at the Kedah police contingent headquarters here yesterday.

He also launched the state police Islamic Religious and Counselling Body's (Baka) website at the event.

Police will use the website to seek assistance on religious matters from Baka officers and to ask for advice.

DCP Syed Ismail said Kedah police recorded 13,802 crime cases last year, a drop of 161 cases compared with 2007.

He said that various preventive programmes, with assistance from the community, had helped to bring down the crime rate.