By ZAZALI MUSA

ULU TIRAM: The country's top student in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination can only study when the radio is blaring or the TV set is on. 

Nur Amalina Che Bakri, 17, said she developed this habit while in primary school.  

Her mother Sabariah Hassan, an Additional Mathematics teacher, was initially worried. 

"But my examination results proved that the noise helps me study better," said Nur Amalina. 

TARGET ACHIEVED: Nur Amalina showing her commendation certificate at SMK Ulu Tiram in Johor Baru.

However, this teenager is far from being just a bookworm.  

She enjoys hanging out with friends, watching television and movies and listening to music. 

Reality television programmes are her favourites and these include American Idol, Malaysian Idol, Amazing Race, Akademi Fantasia and Survivor. 

"I also like to watch documentaries, especially National Geographic, as the programme is a window to knowledge," Nur Amalina said. 

As for music, this bubbly teenager loves rap, rock and ballad with Siti Nurhaliza and Akademi Fantasia's Kaer and Farah being her best-loved singers. 

Her favourite foreign singers are Maroon Five, Linkin Park, Black Eyed Peas and Justin Timberlake and she keeps track of them through the local entertainment magazine Galaxie. 

The SMK Ulu Tiram student was the winner of "Pidato Kelab Pelaburan Bijak PNB" and a member of the St John's Ambulance and her school's badminton club as well. 

She dreams of going to Ireland to study medicine and later specialise in gynaecology. Nur Amalina also aspires to be the country's first female prime minister. 

In Putrajaya, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was proud of Nur Amalina's achievement. 

"I am happy and proud of Amalina's success. This is proof to other students that if they work hard, they can succeed not only with excellence but also with glory and distinction," he said.