Twitter users in Malaysia show a decline of interest in the 1MDB issue, according to pollster Politweet.

This is despite the announcements of the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) investigations into the matter as well as the opposition’s attempts to keep the issue going.

The poll also noted that the decline is particularly significant in states outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

The results show that yearly interest in the 1MDB issue has dropped drastically, from 85,118 users in 2015 to only 19,459 users in 2017.

While the first DOJ civil suit announcement on July 21, 2015, saw 15,200 users in Malaysia tweeting about 1MDB, that number dropped to less than half at 7,519 users during the second DOJ announcement.

“That is a drop in interest by 51 percent,” Politweet said in a Facebook posting today.

Meanwhile, the response to the death of teenager T Nhaveen due to bullying drew more interest from Twitter users in Malaysia, compared to 1MDB within the same period from June 13 to 21 this year.

The poll noted that 12,680 users tweeted about bullying, in both English and Bahasa Malaysia, and 9,233 users tweeted about Nhaveen on June 16.

In comparison, 7,519 users tweeted about 1MDB on June 17.

The DOJ announced its third and latest civil suit related to 1MDB on June 15, where it alleged that the misappropriated figure from 1MDB was actually US$4.5 billion.

It is now seeking to seize a total of US$1.7 billion in assets purportedly acquired using funds stolen from 1MDB.

Among the list of items it intends to seize are a yacht, diamond jewellery, a fitness chain and artworks.

Meanwhile, prompted by the DOJ’s latest lawsuit, Pakatan Harapan intends to organise an anti-kleptocracy rally on Oct 14.

It will be going on a roadshow to raise awareness on the 1MDB issue leading up to the rally.