It’s the end of the year, and Malaysiakini again let its readers decide what they think are the most important news stories of 2014.

A total of 1,200 readers participated in the seven-day survey, opened only to paying subscribers.

They voted by scoring each of the 24 news items selected by Malaysiakini from 1 (lowest interest) to 10 (highest).

As many would expect, the top news of 2014 - a year filled with tragedies - is the twin mishaps of Malaysia Airlines (MAS), where one jumbo jet disappeared into thin air and another shot down allegedly by a missile, resulting in 537 souls lost.

The two air tragedies, which took place in a span of four months, were also the most read news in Malaysiakini .

The disappearance of AirAsia flight QZ8501 last Sunday was not included in the survey. Also not included were the devastating floods which ravaged the country at the tail end of this year.

Interestingly, no 2 on the list is news on the slew of price hikes, indicating that many are deeply concerned over the rise in our cost of living. Interestingly, this news item was ranked no 1 in last year’s top 10, indicating the issue is a perennial concern among Malaysians.

The news that ranked third on the list is the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, which among others involved former PM Mahathir Mohamad yet again expressing his lack of confidence in another prime minister - this time Najib Abdul Razak.

The other items on the lists include Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II trial, the Royal Commission of Inquiry on Sabah’s Illegal Immigrants and the spate of Sedition Act arrests.

But one item jumps out from the year’s Top 10 news - sitting at no 10 is news on the trials and tribulations of University Malaya 8 (UM8) and the revival of student activism.

Here they are - Malaysiakini readers' choice of the top 10 headline-grabbers.

1. MAS twin air disasters (MH370 and MH17)

- 9,691 votes

2. Price hikes (PM's kangkung and RM1 chicken gaffes, end to petrol subsidies, GST)

- 8,322

3. 1MDB scandal, Mahathir vs Najib

- 8,074

4. Anwar Ibrahim's Sodomy II (Court of Appeal decision, Federal Court hearings)

- 7,466

5. Sabah RCI report and kidnappings

- 7,445

6. Sedition Act arrests, Najib’s U-turn, Teresa Kok’s Onederful Malaysia video

- 7,396

7. Kajang Move (by-election, Selangor crisis)

- 7,323

8. RIP (Karpal Singh, Irene Fernandez, Harun Taib, Sultan Azlan Shah)

- 7,305

9. Seizure of BSM bibles, ‘Allah’ controversy

- 7,282

10. University Malaya 8 (UM8) and revival of student activism

- 6,812

The also-rans

Fourteen of the 24 news items failed to make the cut and were relegated by Malaysiakini subscribers to the also-ran category.

They are:

11. Perkasa-Isma combo attacks on non-Malays/non-Muslims

- 6,631

12. Halal issues (I Want to Touch a Dog, Cadbury, bak kut teh in tourism festival, halal logo on mineral water bottles)

- 6,322

13. Interfaith custodial battles, police chief’s refusal to act

- 6,274

14. The hudud debate

- 6,146

15. Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud and Teluk Intan by-election

- 6,048

16. Najib's suits against Malaysiakini and others

- 5,913

17. Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail land deals, Johor Housing Bill, Forest City investments

- 5,895

18. Penang State Assembly intruders

- 5,817

19. PAS infighting between ulamas and professionals

- 5,777

20. Transgenders’ rights and landmark Court of Appeal decision

- 5,672

21. Homeless in Kuala Lumpur and soup kitchens

- 5,452

22. Muhammad Rizalman Ismail’s alleged rape of New Zealand woman

- 5,395

23. Sport scandals (Lee Chong Wei’s alleged doping, football hooliganism)

- 5,247

24. Taib Mahmud's resignation as Sarawak CM, son Bekir’s divorce

- 5,188

Tomorrow: Who’s the newsmaker of 2014?