Google top searches: Lahad Datu, smartphone rebate and GE13

By Digital News Asia December 18, 2013

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Google top searches: Lahad Datu, smartphone rebate and GE13

THE Lahad Datu standoff which began in February between armed militants and security forces in eastern Sabah had Malaysians gripped and searching for news and updates on Google.com.my during the four-month saga, the company said after unveiling its annual Year End Zeitgeist report.

The Zeitgeist report is a look at 2013 through the collective eyes of the world on the Web, offering a unique perspective on the year’s major events and hottest trends based on searches conducted in Malaysia, Google Malaysia said in a statement.

After the Lahad Datu incursion, the smartphone rebates offered via industry regulator the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) took second place; followed by the results of the closely-contested 13th General Election (GE13) which happened in May.

The rest of the trending searches were rounded off by three hit Malay drama series, Google Malaysia said.

Fast & Furious actor Paul Walker’s death on Nov 30 generated plenty of interest, enough to offset searches for 12-year-old Indonesian street busker Tegar, whose hit song Aku yang dulu bukan yang sekarang became a national phenomenon.

In third place on the trending people list was national footballer Nor Sharul Idlan Talaha’s wife’s verbal scuffle with a security guard which was captured on video.

“Google is the first place Malaysians turn to for information or to discover new things and people; the year-end Zeitgeist is a cultural barometer that gives us a real snapshot of the big events and trends in Malaysia for 2013,” said Zeffri Yusof (pic), head of communications and public affairs at Google Malaysia.

Malaysia’s Trending Queries of 2013

Lahad Datu
SKMM (MCMC)
Keputusan PRU13
Setia Hujung Nyawa
Gwiyomi
Teduhan Kasih
Malindo Air
WeChat
The Conjuring
Cinta Jannah

Malaysia’s Trending People of 2013

Paul Walker
Tegar
Isteri Mat Yo
Sharifah Zohra Jabeen
Nelson Mandela
Jackie Chan
Sultan Sulu
Adam Adli
Lea Michele
Gareth Bale

In addition showcasing what people were curious about in Malaysia, Google Zeitgeist tools also offer insight into which topics captured the world’s attention in 2013.

Top search terms from over fifty countries appear on the Google Zeitgeist webpage googlezeitgeist.com – from most-searched travel destinations in Brazil, to trending Australian celebrities, to most-searched Egyptian Olympians, to top tech gadgets in Japan and everything in between.

Top 10 Global Trending Queries for 2013