SINGAPORE'S top Malay student, Nadiah Nadhirah Abdul, grew up watching Chinese dramas, which might be why she decided to take Chinese as a third language when she was in Secondary 1.

The Riverside Secondary student scored A1s for English, Malay and Chinese, giving her nine distinctions for her O Levels yesterday.

With the encouragement of her parents and teachers, Nadiah, 16, chose the Chinese Special Programme, despite having to travel about an hour by train from Woodlands to Clementi Town Secondary twice a week, as her school didn't have the programme.

Nadiah also travelled to Bukit Panjang Government High twice a week for Higher Malay lessons.

But by the end of Secondary 2, Nadiah had decided to concentrate on her Chinese studies, dropping Higher Malay.

For the full story, read Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.