12 Awesome & Viral Happenings Of 2024 To Look Back On As The Year Comes To An End

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.

The seven-time world champion surprised students and staff at SMK Seri Keramat in Kuala Lumpur in March. This unexpected appearance caused a stir on social media, with a fan commenting, "Lewis Hamilton in Keramat was not on my 2024 bingo card."

Hamilton's visit was part of PETRONAS Chemicals Group's Towards Sustainable Communities programme, which collaborated with the school's Parent Teacher Association and Petrosains. SMK Seri Keramat was recognised as the champion of a national competition organised by PETRONAS last year, earning them this special visit.

Malaysia was experiencing a scorching heatwave early this year, with temperatures soaring to record highs, particularly in northern states like Kelantan, Perlis, and Kedah. 

The weather was so hot that a woman's laundry was "smoking" as steam rose from her freshly hung clothes in a viral TikTok video.

Even wildlife was seeking refuge from the heat. A video of an orangutan raiding a café fridge for a cold drink near the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah amused netizens, who complimented the primate for making himself at home.

The 25-year-old's recent achievements have propelled her to a career-high ranking of No. 10, making her the third Malaysian woman to achieve this feat, following in the footsteps of squash legends Nicol David and Low Wee Wern.

Sivasangari's rise to the top was fuelled by her impressive victory at the London Squash Classic, where she defeated World No. 2 Hania El Hammamy of Egypt to claim her first-ever PSA World Tour Gold-level title. This triumph, coupled with her strong performance at the World Championships in Cairo, solidified her position among the world's squash elite.

This Thai movie brought many viewers to tears with its story focused on a young man's complex relationship with his terminally ill grandmother.

The film was released theatrically in Malaysia in June and sparked a viral trend on TikTok where netizens would share their reactions before and after watching the movie. The "before" videos typically show viewers nonchalant and even occasionally messing up the film's long title, while the "after" videos would feature their tear-streaked faces and swollen eyes.

This tear-jerker is available on Netflix now.

Tioman Island has made a splash in marine conservation by becoming the first island in Malaysia to repurpose decommissioned light rail transit (LRT) coaches as artificial reefs. This innovative initiative has earned the island a spot in the Malaysian Book of Records and created a unique underwater attraction for divers.

The submerged LRT coaches, once part of the Kelana Jaya Line in Kuala Lumpur, now form the Al-Sultan Abdullah Dive Site, named in honour of Malaysia's previous Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

A video showcasing a large barracuda seemingly "guarding" the train's control panel also went viral, capturing the attention of netizens and even the Tengku Ampuan Pahang.

Breakdancing made its Olympic debut; however, the sport didn't quite get the attention it was hoping for. The event was overshadowed by a very unorthodox performance from Australia's Raygun, who became an online meme after videos of her "kangaroo hop" went viral all over social media. It has been announced that breakdancing would not be returning for future Olympic events.

Love stories blossomed and heartwarming proposals unfolded on the world stage, showing that love can still shine even in the most competitive and tense places. And speaking of things that shone, plenty of athletes caught our attention not just with their impressive skills, but also with their charming looks and captivating aura. Athletes such as Kim Ye-ji had us going on for DAYS about their undeniable charisma.

Besides that, Malaysian athletes made our country proud, with 56 of the country's best talents participating in both the Olympic and the Paralympic Games in Paris. Badminton men's singles player Lee Zii Jia and men's doubles Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik each clinched bronze medals for the country, while our Paralympic athletes scored five medals (two gold, two silver, and one bronze) during the Paralympic Games.

We are so proud of all the athletes who represented Malaysia in the Games this year, and we will be undoubtedly rooting for them again at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Held at the Sarawak Stadium in Kuching on 17 August, the multi-sport event featured a breathtaking performance that drew comparisons to the iconic Beijing 2008 Olympics opening ceremony. 

With the night illuminated by a display of colourful lights and lasers, the performance featured talented individuals playing drums while showcasing impressive martial arts skills, including silat and wushu.

A Maybank branch in Kota Kinabalu has attracted flocks of foreign tourists to snap photos with the unassuming bank. While locals are baffled by the trend, these fashion-forward tourists seem drawn to the branch's aesthetic appeal and its location on Gaya Street, a vibrant and pedestrian-friendly area.

Social media, particularly Chinese platform Xiaohongshu, is abuzz with photos of tourists posing against the backdrop of the Maybank branch, often tagged with hashtags like #KotaKinabalu and #OOTD. These photos are typically part of a series showcasing their explorations of Gaya Street, with its colourful buildings and bustling atmosphere providing ample opportunities for street photography.

This year's Merdeka Parade was filled with viral moments that kept us entertained, from grand Abang Bomba entrances to the Royal Malaysian Air Force's synchronised Bye Bye Bye dance routine.

This adorable baby pygmy hippo stole all our hearts with her memeable expressions.

Since finding viral fame in September this year, this bouncy Internet sensation has successfully attracted countless visitors to the Khao Kheow Open Zoo, contributed to the surge of braised pork sales in Thailand, become the face of a charity project, and won a TikTok Award.

Besides her long list of achievements, Moo Deng also went viral for "predicting" that Donald Trump would win the US presidential election in November.

Labubu, the mischievous-looking doll with pointy ears and a cheeky grin, has taken Southeast Asia by storm, and it's all thanks to BLACKPINK's Lisa. When the K-pop idol began sporting Labubu dolls and accessories, it sparked a buying frenzy that transformed these once-obscure toys into highly sought-after collectibles.

Lisa's influence propelled Labubu to new heights, particularly in Thailand and Malaysia, where fans and celebrities alike clamoured to get their hands on these fluffy companions. The craze even reached the point where some resorted to scams and theft to obtain the coveted dolls.

Labubu's popularity has also made its way to the food industry, with bakeries and other businesses incorporating the character's likeness into their products. This widespread use prompted Pop Mart Singapore, the official distributor of Labubu, to issue a warning against unlicensed use of the character.

On 26 November, the prime minister's Instagram post during his official visit to South Korea went  viral, thanks to a song selection that very well may have been curated by a second-generation K-pop fan.

Among the songs included in the posts were Girls' Generation's Gee, SUPER JUNIOR's Sorry, Sorry, G-Dragon's POWER, 2NE1's Come Back Home, and many more.

The posts have each garnered over 25,000 likes on Instagram.