IT WAS certainly disturbing to read about the freefall from grace of Sufiah Yusof on Wednesday, 'We were in Singapore when we broke up''. Indeed, her ex-husband, Mr Jonathan Marshall asked the most pertinent question: 'How did she get to this stage?'

I believe that by understanding Sufiah's unhappiness and reasons for abandoning her family and values, we can better understand her. The stress put on our own students by their parents and educators hopefully, will not lead to similar and tragic repressions.

Firstly, I believe that Sufiah had resorted to such desperate measures to earn a living not because she had no way of earning money. She could have easily sold her story, as Mr Marshall stated. I believe she was rebelling against the tight reins placed on her.