A record number of Malay-Muslim youth received awards on Saturday for graduating with first class honours from both local and overseas universities. These included six graduates with degrees in biological and life sciences.

The 21 graduates were recognised at the annual Anugerah Mendaki award ceremony, held at Singapore Polytechnic's Convention Centre, where a total of 365 awards were given out to students who are in the top 10 per cent of the national cohort, some of whom received more than one award.

This year also saw the highest number of award recipients who excelled in the Institute of Technical Education and Madrasah GCE O level categories.

Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin presented the awards at the event, which was also attended by Minister for Communications and Information, and Minister-In-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Dr Yaacob said that he was happy to see the high number of awards this year. "It shows that many in the community want excellence and many want to do good in the many different areas we have in Singapore."