Malaysiakini is the fastest rising searched website in Malaysia in 2008, according to search engine giant Google in its annual survey.

Its survey of “the largest spike in searches during 2008 compared to 2007" has seen Malaysiakini beat social networking website Facebook, PAS party organ Harakah and private television station TV3.

google top searches in malaysia 111208 Six others in the top 10 ‘fastest rising searches’ in the category of websites included popular blog Malaysia Today , Rapidshare, Blogspot, Youtube, Malaysian Insider and ‘Beijing 2008'.

There were 10 ‘fasting rising’ categories in the survey, which Google coined Zeitgeist meaning ‘the spirit of the times’ in German.

“Google reveals this spirit through the aggregation of millions of search queries we receive every day,” it said in a statement issued today.

Topping the category for fastest rising personality search was Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who Google said even elbowed out US presidential-elect Barack Obama “in a year that saw local and global politics take centre stage”.

DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang, who clinched the third spot, was one rung above former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The three politicians occupied the top posts in a category that included badminton player Lee Chong Wei, American singer Miley Cyrus, and former health minister and current MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek.

PJ Utara MP and Selangor DAP deputy chief Tony Pua also made the cut, although he was beaten by singing sensation Siti Nurhaliza and pre-teen Disney star Hannah Montana.

A-list bloggers

At 83, Mahathir is certainly one of the oldest bloggers in Malaysia.

mahathir chedet blog website event 180908 03 Not showing signs of slowing down, his blog Chedet also figured as the fastest rising blogger search in 2008, beating the other Malaysian A-listers - Anwar, Raja Petra Kamarudin, Anil Netto and Susan Loone.

Pua’s blog popped up in this category as well, above Ahirudin 'Rocky' Attan, Paul Tan, Kenny Sia and blogger-turned politician Jeff Ooi.

Malaysian carmaker Perodua's new SUV, the Perodua Nautica, emerged as the winner of the fastest rising car model search list, beating five other foreign models in the market, said Google.

Meanwhiel, the Visit Terengganu Year 2008 marketing campaign boosted more searches for this coastal state, as Terengganu came up higher than second placer Pulau Tioman as well as tourist haunts Genting Highlands and Penang on the list of fastest rising local destinations.

Google also found that the economic downturn was clearly on top of mind for many Malaysians.

"There were large increases in the number of searches for 'murah' (36% increase), 'warehouse' (28% increase) and 'sale' (19% increase), reflecting Malaysians searching more often online to find the best deals and save money," said Google in a statement.

"Terms like 'recession' (383% increase) and 'financial crisis' (136% increase) also saw significant spikes in search volume when the global markets were falling in September and October."