BOTH common sense and financial interest would support the request by T.T.S. of Kuala Lumpur that bankrupts should be shown more leniency ("Allow us to travel and open accounts" -- NST, July 16).

When a person can't pay his creditors, it is not usually entirely his fault and it doesn't mean he can't pay forever. A creditor should never give up hope of receiving his dues and the debtor should be equally eager not to rest until his debt is repaid.

Bankrupts should be encouraged to continue working, explore new possibilities and enter new businesses or do the same business better so they can repay their debts and learn to be better managers of their business and of themselves.

A society that is quick to resort to punishment does not foster creativity nor does it create opportunities because it makes people scared and ashamed of mistakes.

The process of declaring a person a bankrupt is expensive and time-consuming for all the parties involved, not to mention the pain.
Time, money and energy so expended would be better used trying to rehabilitate a person whose business has failed and ensuring that a portion of whatever income he gets thereafter goes towards the payment of outstanding debts.