It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and new discoveries these past few months with people nationwide trying to get some sense of how to get through a global pandemic.
For the whole month of April, Malaysian have stayed put at home, observing the Movement Control Order (MCO). As we are gradually transitioning to the new normal with the beginning of the conditional MCO (CMCO), let’s take a look back at what had been in everyone’s mind with the top 10 google trending searches last month.
1. BPN/ Bantuan PRIHATIN Nasional* / Semakan BPN** / LHDN semakan***
Photo: sentiasapanas.com
As the government announced a much-needed economic stimulus package that promised to assist those who had lost their source of income and were desperately in need of financial aid during MCO, Malaysians eagerly sought out more information about the requirements and guidelines to apply for the PRIHATIN Economic stimulus package.
2. Thank You Coronavirus Helpers / Terima Kasih kepada Pekerja yang Menolong Ketika Pandemik Coronavirus*
Photo: Google
On April 18, Google released its Doodle series, the ones we usually see commemorating important events and birthdays, to recognize and honor many of those on the front lines. The series titled “Thank You Coronavirus Helpers” was among the top searches by netizens who were curious to check out the full set of Google’s series of Doodles honoring frontliners battling the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Coronavirus/Tips / Tips Coronavirus*
As Malaysians were trying to adjust to the MCO, many looked quick answers online on how to stay safe and cope with life while staying at home.
4. i-Lestari / i-Lestari KWSP* / KWSP i-Lestari**
As the MCO continues to be extdned and more and more families are finding ways to cope with financial losses, many also looked into the i-Lestari programme under the Employees Provident Fund, which allows withdrawals of up to RM500 a month to meet basic needs.
5. Omegle
Netizens still found a way to stay connected and did not let social distancing keep them away from socializing. The chat platform Omegle was searched by many who opted for a life online inside of outside.
6. The World of the Married / 夫妻 的 世界 (The World of the Married)*
Photo:dramalist.com
Since most Malaysians had the time to sit back and indulge in their K-drama fever, the critically acclaimed series, The World of the Married, starring Kim Hee-ae, Park Hae-joon and Han So-hee, became the must-watch series during the pandemic.
7. 8Realme/ 6i G80 Malaysia
Gadget lovers also took the time to learn more about the gadget world with the newly released
Realme 6i, that is both affordable and equipped with the world’s first Helio G80 chipset, promising better overall performance and perfect for gaming.
8. 机场 特警 (Airport Strikers)
Photo: asianrun.com
Many Malaysians also eagerly caught up on the latest plot development and episodes of the Hong Kong TV drama, Airport Strikers, which centred around the lives of four Airport Security Unit (ASU) officers in Hong Kong.
9. Niat Puasa Sebulan / Niat Puasa*
As Muslims prepared to begin their month-long fast at the start of the month of Ramadan, they looked up ways to set their daily fasting intentions.
Not only that, Malaysians also searched for the term bantuan, puasa, recipes (particular, cake recipes) and delivery throughout the month of April, reflective of how the situation for this year’s Ramadhan that is rather unique compared to previous years.
10. Kim Jong Un
Last but not least, the news of the North Korean supreme leader’s disappearance from public view after experiencing some health-related setbacks kept the whole word on edge as they searched for updates with much interest and curiosity.
Photo: Google
These are some of the top Google searches for Malaysians throughout these unprecedented times. What will we search for next?
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
