Malaysian media reports today that two teams of researchers will search the wilderness areas for their local “Bigfoot,” which, as I have mentioned before here (1, 2, 3), should more properly be called “Orang Dalam.” These cryptid hairy hominoids have been seen in the Malaysian rainforests of Tanjung Piai, Mersing, Kahang, Endau-Rompin National Park and Kota Tinggi.

The recent wave of media interest developed after workers at a fish pond in Kampung Mawai, Kota Tinggi claimed to have seen in November 2005, a three-member family of these creatures, composed of two apparent adults and a child.

As to the proposed expedition teams, the Bernama news service quotes the Chief Minister of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman as telling reporters after this week’s state executive meeting today: “One team will explore the forest areas while the other [will be] to study the existence of the creature.”

Abdul Ghani remarked that the expedition to track the creature would be carried out in stages with the cooperation of the Johor National Park Corporation.

“We have obtained [a] description of the creature from those who claimed to have seen it … we hope the expedition will be able to prove its existence,” he added.