A new drawing of the Malaysian “Bigfoot” has been released in Friday, January 6th’s New Straits Times with their article “Closing in on Bigfoot, foreign media set to descend on Johor.”

The sketch appears to illustrate the more distinctive Malaysian unknown hairy hominid, which technically is a more humanlike cryptid, and very different that the classic, stocky Pacific Northwest USA’s Bigfoot or Sasquatch. I have previously discussed in my and Patrick Huyghe’s field guide, as has Mark A. Hall in his books, how the Malaysian unknown hairy hominoid reports divide into two quite separate types: those of the True Giant and the accounts of the more humanoid, Erectus Hominid variety.

This drawing, if it actually does originate from eyewitness sightings in Malaysia – and there’s no guarantee that this is the case – clearly shows one of the latter. If this is an image that we are to definitely now associate with the new wave of Malaysian encounters, it does reinforce the diversity of unknown hairy hominoids, and adds weight to calling this something other than “Bigfoot.”

Even employing the uncomfortable but descriptive name the “Stinking Ones” (used decades ago), or a native Malaysian name, would be much preferred to the American moniker being used for these reports.

Cryptozoology and hominology call for the confirmation of the exact descriptions and locations of these hominoids, sketches tied to eyewitnesses, and answers about which set of descriptions are tied to what footprints.

Are the details correct? The sketch appears to be attributed to an Orang Asli, that is a local native. But is this correct? And are the reports of the encounters with three meter tall (nine feet tall) hominoids go with this drawing?

In the meantime, Malaysia’s media mania for these Bigfoot reports has reinforced the notion that good things will come to their country because of the worldwide interest in these stories. Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman Jimmy Leong was reported to have said: “This is a boon for Johor. The news has put the State on the international tourism radar. We must maximise benefits from the publicity generated.”

The paper continued:

The sentiment was shared by Johor Tourism Action Council general manager Abdul Jabar Md Tahir, who said Bigfoot could give the tourism sector a boost. “This will be a major draw for Johor. We are excited about the impact this could have on tourism here.”

Johor Malaysian Nature Society adviser Vincent Chow said the State should cash in on the Bigfoot craze just as Scotland had on the Loch Ness monster — whose probable non-existence had never diminished its status as a tourist attraction.

Stay tuned.