MALIN KUNDANG

A long time ago, on the north coast of Sumatera lived a widow and her only son named Malin
Kundang. They were living in poverty. Malin Kundang grew up as a skillful young boy. He
always wanted to be a successful person to help her mother.

One day, a large ship of a rich merchant docked nearby. Malin Kundang met one of the ship’s
crew and was offered to join with him. He knew that it was a good chance to make his dream
came true. So he decided to accept the offer and went home to tell his mother. “Mom, what if
I sail overseas?” asked Malin Kundang to his beloved mother. “Oh dear, I can’t let you do
that. I lost your father; he was sailing and never came back. I don’t want to lose you too,” her
mother replied.

Malin Kundang kept trying to convince his mother that he would be all right, “Mom, if I stay
here, I’ll always be a poor man. I want to be a successful person to help us to get a better life.
I promise you that I’ll be back for you.” His mother wiped her own tears, “If you really want
to go, I can’t stop you my son. I could only pray to God for you to gain your success in life,”
said his mother wisely. In the next morning, Malin Kundang was ready to go.

It had been a year since Malin Kundang left his mother. Her mother never heard any news
from Malin Kundang. However, she kept waiting and praying for his son to come home
safely. After several years of waiting, she was surprised by arrival of a wealthy merchant in
the ship dock. When the large ship pulled over, Malin’s mother saw a wealthy man who was
stepping down the ladder along with a beautiful woman. The man turned out to be her only
son, Malin Kundang.

Without hesitation, she came running to hug her son. “Oh my dear son, I miss you so much.”
However, Malin Kundang did not give any response. He was too ashamed to admit that the
old woman was his own mother in front of his beautiful wife. “Who are you? You’re not my
mother. My mother has passed away when I was kid,” said Malin Kundang. Malin’s mother
took a step back, “Malin, what do you mean? I’m your mother!” she said sadly.

Malin Kundang then ordered his bodyguard to take the old woman away from him, “Take
this old and filthy woman out of here!” Malin’s mother cried as he was dragged by the
bodyguard, “Malin, my son. How could you do this to me? Why do you treat your own
mother like this?” she sobbed.

As her heart was broken and felt very disappointed to her son, she cried and shouted, “Oh
God, if he is my real son, I curse him into stone!” After that, Malin Kundang continued his
journey and once again left his mother. In the middle of a calm sea, suddenly the wind was
blowing so hard and a storm came. The storm struck his ship and turned him into a stone.