I refer to last Sunday's article, 'Grads exploit 'loophole' for discounts'.

The graduates who continue to use their matriculation cards to get cheaper buys are being dishonest. It is highly disappointing to note that these are individuals who are supposed to be better educated than most people and may even become leaders one day.

The reasons given by the graduates for their act are lame and show the sad state of public morals these days.

Good values such as honesty and self-discipline cannot be enforced. Whether we possess these values can be seen by how we behave when there is no one around to 'catch' us.

If a person is no longer entitled to the privileges of the matric card because he has graduated, then he should stop using it voluntarily. Wrong is wrong, there are no justifications for knowingly carrying out a dishonest act.

Besides smearing their own characters, these people also sully the reputations of their schools, universities and parents.

What sort of values were they taught?

Their act could also adversely affect future batches of students who really do need the discounts.

Retailers may do away with such perks because of these dishonest grads.

Robin Low

This article was first published in The Straits Times.