By Jonathan Kent
BBC correspondent in Kuala Lumpur
The government of the Malaysian state of Johor says it is to organise an attempt to track down a legendary ape man reputed to roam its jungles.
After a spate of sightings, Johor's chief minister says he will launch an official search for the beast, dubbed Malaysia's Big Foot by local media but known in local legend as Hantu Gigi Jarang - ghosts with widely-spaced teeth.
The country has been gripped since November 2005 when three fishery workers claimed to have seen a Big Foot family that left footprints up to 45 cm long.
Conservationists say that damage to branches suggested that the creatures could have been up to 3 m tall.
There were similar sightings by members of the local indigenous minority who said they had seen a 'King Kong' covered in black fur.
Now, the chief minister of Johor, Abdul Ghani Othman, says a proper scientific expedition will track Big Foot's big foot-prints.
He is setting up two teams, one of which will scour likely locations, including the densely forested Endau-Rompin National Park.
Mr Abdul Ghani says it is important that the expedition should not harm or frighten the creatures.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/4650388.stm
Published: 2006/01/26 12:50:18 GMT
BBC MMVI
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