KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 ― While stories about reality TV star Kim Kardashian-West and footballer Lionel Messi dominated Google searches across the world this year, Malaysians were more occupied with looking up tales about their prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

According to a ranking the search engine provided to US magazine TIME in a report yesterday, Najib was the most-searched person on Google in Malaysia in 2015.

The prime minister has been making headlines here and across the globe over controversies plaguing his administration, especially that involving his brainchild 1Malaysia Development Berhad, the RM2.6 billion donation in his accounts and the war in Umno between him and leaders like his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the country’s longest-serving former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In the same Google ranking, Kardashian-West and Argentine football player Messi tied for first place on the global scale, with each being the most-searched person in 26 different countries this year.

Advertisement

Kardashian-West was reportedly the most-searched person in France, New Zealand and the US among other nations, while Messi topped the ranking in Cuba, Chad, the Congo and other countries.

Neighbouring Thailand googled pop star Taylor Swift the most, while the Philippines most searched for Filipina child actress Andrea Brillantes.

Indonesia was similarly interested in celebrities, making Indonesian dangdut singer Ayu Ting Ting the most-searched person on Google.

Advertisement

Like Malaysians, the Burmese were most interested in a politician, googling former head of Myanmar’s military junta General Than Shwe the most.

British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver topped the list in Falklands, while American basketball player Kobe Bryant was the most-searched person in Mongolia.