As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look back on the moments that sparked our inspiration, made us wonder and scratch our heads. For Malaysia, 2023 was a year of great change and new beginnings – a new government, an upcoming new monarch and a new phase of the pandemic.
As Malaysians grappled with changes in the world, from the weather to global events, we looked for answers to make sense of it all. We showed our care for those affected by hard-hitting issues, kept tabs on the election results and searched for financial aids more than anything else. And while we faced some tough times, we also found fascination and fun through games, sports, and entertainment.
Navigating news from around the world
When it comes to news, Malaysians are interested in the topic of financial aid the most. ‘Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR)’, the government’s cash assistance for the low and middle income groups, topped the trending ‘News’ list, while ‘eBelia Rahmah’, an e-cash credit of RM200 for youth aged 18 to 20 or full-time students of higher institutions, came in at number six.
‘War in Israel and Gaza’ is the second most trending term on the list, reflecting our desire in seeking clarity and an end to the devastating war, while staying informed on the catastrophic series of ‘Turkey Earthquake’ which is the fifth trending term. Malaysians were also keeping track of the state elections results, with ‘Keputusan PRN’ coming in at third place. Other news that captured nationwide attention includes, the shutting down of local low-cost carrier ‘MYAirline’ in early October, ‘PLKN’ or the National Service Training Programme that is making a comeback, parents’ concerns over the risk of the ‘lato-lato’ toy, ‘The 1975’ fiasco at a music festival in Sepang, and the ‘Elmina’ plane crash incident in Shah Alam.
From silver screen to digital screen
We love binge-watching the latest TV dramas, or go out to the cinema to catch up on the latest box-office movies – that’s how big of a role entertainment plays in Malaysia. Topping the trending list for ‘Movies’ is ‘Oppenheimer’ which tells the story of an American scientist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his role in the development of the atomic bomb, followed by a live-action spin on the iconic Mattel doll ‘Barbie’, and Bollywood action thriller ‘Jawan’ starring global mega-star Shah Rukh Khan, in second and third place respectively. For top trending ‘TV Series,’ ‘长 月 烬 明 (Till the End of the Moon)’ – a Chinese drama series about a ruthless demon and a goddess trying to save the world – takes the first spot. Local drama ‘Perempuan Itu’ starring Mimi Lana and Zul Ariffin as the main casts, is second on the list, while third place goes to Hong Kong police action drama ‘隐形 战队 (The Invisibles)’.
Keeping score
From following the ‘Indian Premier League 2023’ and the ‘All England Open 2023’ to proudly cheering for our Malaysian athletes, we remain a nation of true blue sports fans. Badminton caused quite a racket as men’s double pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik won their first ever World Tour title in the ‘Denmark Open 2023’, while in football, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) cemented themselves in the country’s football history when they emerged as ‘Liga Super Malaysia 2023’ champions for the 10th time in a row.
We’re a curious bunch
Malaysians just love being in the know about the hottest news when it comes to their favorite celebrities. The marital conflict between actress ‘Puteri Sarah’ and film director ‘Syamsul Yusof’ were in the limelight after the latter had secretly married his second wife, ‘Ira Kazar’. This resulted in all three of them being surfaced in the top trending ‘People’ list. Others who made it into the list includes Singaporean stand-up comedian ‘Jocelyn Chia’ who has drawn ire for a joke about the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, Malaysia’s first Oscar-winning actress ‘Michelle Yeoh’, and veteran actress ‘Angeline Tan’ and actor ‘Sabri Yunus’ who have recently tied the knot.
Remembering loved ones
While we celebrate those who are still present, we also remember those who have passed. Hong Kong-American singer ‘Coco Lee’ is the top trending search for ‘Losses.’ Heartfelt condolences poured in from across the Malaysian cyberspace with fans remembering the star and her music. Malaysians also followed the case involving the grisly death of 28-year-old Hong Kong model and influencer ‘Abby Choi’, and K-pop star ‘Moonbin’ who was found dead at his home.
We were also affected by losses in the country, including: former Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister ‘Salahuddin Ayub’, popular actor ‘Ridzuan Hashim’, veteran singer ‘Rohana Jalil’, former member of nasyid group In-Team ‘Suhaimi Saad’, actor ‘Badrul Muhayat’, and news anchor ‘Raymond Goh’. Fans of the TV sitcom Friends also paid tribute to the shocking passing of ‘Matthew Perry.’
For a look at the full list, visit https://trends.google.com/
In addition to showcasing what people were curious about in Malaysia, Google Search tools also offer insights into which topics captured the entire world’s attention in 2023. Visit the global trends site to explore the rest of this year’s Year in Search stories and top trending charts from Malaysia and around the world.
Explore more trends from the year at yearinsearch.google.
What is Google’s Year in Search?
Google’s 2023 Year in Search looks back at both the moments, people, topics, events, and places across our 25 year history as well as within the past year that captured the world’s attention. Just as Search can help you explore and discover a world of information, there are many ways to explore the year through the lens of Google Search. Year in Search takes a look at the overall most searched trends to hundreds of top 10 lists of trending topics across pop culture and lifestyle, sports, music, news, and more from across over 60 countries.