Deaths and tragedies dominate the year in Malaysian googling

• Trending searches for 2014 sees the nation’s twin air tragedies top Google’s annual list
• Opposition politicians the late Karpal Singh and newcomer Dyana Sofya score high

THE top trending searches of 2014 took on a sombre note with Malaysia Airlines flights MH370, reported missing on March 8 and MH17, shot down on July 17 over the Ukraine, taking the first and third spots on the list.
 
In between, the World Cup in Brazil offered the nation temporary relief from the twin air tragedies, Google said in a statement, citing its annual Year in Malaysian Search, based on queries on google.com.my.
 
Of special note is how news outlet Astro Awani became a highly sought after online news resource on the back of the air tragedies due to its round-the-clock live coverage, the company said.
 
The launch of Perodua Axia, the country’s most affordable energy efficient car with prices starting from RM24,600 (approximately US$7,000), caught the public’s attention.
 
Other trending searches included online public school management system SPS, the Government’s highly controversial annual handout programme BR1M, the launch of Google Street View imagery featuring Malaysian public roads, new airline Malindo Air, and local hit drama series RinduAwak 200%.
 
On the Trending People front popular politician Karpal Singh’s death on July 17 in a car accident and the suicide of international comedian Robin Williams on Aug 11 also saw people searches take on a similar downbeat theme.
 
Hollywood actress Jennifer Lawrence claimed third spot ahead of Malaysian model Felixia Yeap, who made waves when she converted to Islam this year, and celebrity gossip magnet Hanez Suraya rounded off the top five people searches, Google said.
 
“Google searches continue to act as a cultural barometer that gives us a real snapshot of the major events, popular individuals and top trends that collectively made an impact on the life of Malaysians,” said Zeffri Yusof (pic), head of communications and public affairs for Google Malaysia.
 
“Google is where most Malaysians turn to for information and we hope the lists we’ve compiled on Malaysian searches reflect the national zeitgeist or ‘spirit of the times’,” he added.
 
Malaysia’s Trending Searches of 2014

1.     MH370
2.     World Cup 2014
3.     MH17
4.     Astro Awani
5.     PeroduaAxia
6.     SPS
7.     BR1M
8.     Street View
9.     Malindo Air
10.  Rindu Awak 200%
 
Malaysia’s Trending People of 2014

1.     Karpal Singh
2.     Robin Williams
3.     Jennifer Lawrence
4.     Felixia Yeap
5.     Hanez Suraya
6.     Luna Maya
7.     Michael Schumacher
8.     Dyana Sofya
9.     Keith Foo
10.  Juan Mata
 
Malaysia’s Trending Mobile Searches of 2014

1.     World Cup 2014
2.     MH370
3.     MH17
4.     iPhone 6
5.     Dorothy Hodgkin
6.     Olympic Charter
7.     Mary Anning
8.     Yasmin Ahmad
9.     Honinbo Shusaku
10.  Perodua Axia
 
To see more information about Google’s Year in Search across the globe, use interactive data visualisations and to watch its annual video, visit google.com/2014.
 
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