A total of 1,056 participated in the five-day survey over the past week. They voted by showing their preference for each of the 21 news items selected by Malaysiakini - ‘1' being the lowest and ‘10' the highest.
Not surprisingly, the Bersih 2.0 rally in July has been voted the event of the year. This is however followed closely by
the Cowgate scandal, which is only 91 votes behind the No 1 news of 2011.
The controversy surrounding the Rosmah Mansor RM24 million ring is at No 3, ahead of news on the revival of student activism surrounding the campaign to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA).
The Sarawak state election where the opposition made significant gains is No 5, with the Teoh Beng Hock's royal commission of inquiry and the controversy involving newly-minted PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu's remark on Mat Indera coming next respectively.
The alleged irregularities in the Election Commission's rolls is at No 7, followed by the government flip-flop over the teaching of maths and science in English.
Last but not least are the news, among others, on the purported plot to take over the country by the minority Christians.
Here they are - Malaysiakini readers' choice of the top 10 headline-grabbers.
1. Bersih 2.0 - July 9 rally, EO6 arrests, Perkasa no-show, polls reform PSC
9,435 votes
2. National Feedlot Corporation scandal - The cows have come home ... to condos
9,344 votes
3. Rosmah Mansor's ring - The RM24 million ring gets Malaysians talking
8,500 votes
4. UUCA - Students seek repeal of Section 15, Abdul Aziz Bari seeks academic freedom
7,795 votes
5. Sarawak election - The opposition makes inroads in the Land of the Hornbills
7,768 votes
6. Teoh Beng Hock RCI - The royal panel's lengthy inquiry leaves no one happy
7,590 votes
7. Mat Sabu-Mat Indera - Comments spark re-examination of freedom fighters
7,405 votes
8. Mismahgate - Instant citizenship and irregularities involving the Election Commission
7,283 votes
9. PPSMI - The final nail in the coffin on teaching maths and science in English
6,960 votes
10. Christianity - Jais raid on DUMC, ‘Christian conspiracy', anti-apostasy campaign, Malay Bible impoundment
6,809 votes
Those that failed to make the cut
The following are the news items which failed to make it to the Top 10 list.
Interestingly, the sex video allegedly involving Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim did not make the cut, while PM Najib Razak's announcement on the repeal of the Internal Security Act sits at the bottom of the list.
11. Lynas - Kuantan caught in the grip of radioactivity fear
6,675
12. Apco/FBC - Some people made a bundle by sprucing up the government's image abroad
6,595 votes
13. Aminulrasyid Amzah - The teen was the latest victim in a long list of police shootings
6,533 votes
14. Ahmad Sarbaini Mohamad - Another man falls to his death from a MACC building
6,486 votes
15. Sex video - Released by ‘Datuk T', about a man who looks like Anwar Ibrahim
6,323 votes
16. Erdrogan victory in PAS - Moderates sweep key top posts in the Islamic party
5,948 votes
17. ‘Interlok' - The textbook that launched protests from Malaysian Indians
5,709 votes
18. Seksualiti Merdeka - The knives came out for gays and lesbians
5,529 votes
19. KR1M - Furore over safety of products in 1Malaysia stores
5,510 votes
20. Khusrin Munawi - Putrajaya and Selangor collide over the state secretary's appointment
4,834 votes
21. ISA repeal - PM Najib Abdul Razak's eve of Malaysia Day announcement
4,769 votes
Tomorrow, Malaysiakini will announce the Newsmaker of 2011.
It's still not too late to vote. For those who have yet to make their pick, go to this link to register your vote (please ignore Top News of 2011 and go directly to the bottom of the page).
