JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - For Universiti Teknologi Malaysia graduate Tee Choon Shai, the sneering by people that a 'pasar malam' (night market) girl would never amount to anything served to drive her to achieve success.

The 26-year-old, who received the university's vice-chancellor award for excellence in her Bachelor of Quantity Surveying programme, had to juggle between studies and helping her parents run a fruit business at a night market in Malacca since secondary school.

Tee began helping her parents after they retired from government service.

She said many people, especially customers at the market, looked down on her and constantly sneered at her.

"Their lack of respect spurred me to work harder. No matter how hard I worked, I always made sure that studies came first," she said, adding that her family had always offered encouragement and support.

"In class, I focused on my studies and was never shy to ask questions whenever I didn't understand a certain subject," she said.

Tee had to go through many stages in her studies before obtaining her degree. She had to obtain a certificate, then a diploma at a polytechnic before furthering her studies at the university.

On her award, she said she never expected it but was really grateful to have received it. She now plans to work with a consultant's firm.

For Ummu Tasnim Husin, 22, a recipient of the Chancellor Award for excellence for the Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree, her retired teacher father was her inspiration.

"My father was a mathematics teacher and he always encouraged me to excel in my studies."

"I have had an interest in mathematics since I was really young," she said, adding that she hoped to study for her PhD in Australia.

Johor Sultanah Zanariah Tunku Ahmad, who is the university's chancellor, launched the convocation ceremony and presented the degrees to the graduates.

She congratulated the graduates and reminded them to work harder to ensure a better future.

The convocation ceremony is being held till Monday and involves 2,223 graduates.