MALIN KUNDANG

Once upon a time, on the north coast of

Sumatera lived a poor woman and his son, who
called Malin Kundang. His Father eventually
died, and his mother lived alone as a poverty-
stricken old woman.
Malin Kundang grew up as a skillful
young boy. He always helps his mother to earn
some money. One day, Malin Kundang decide
going to overseas and promise to come back.
After several years had gone by, Malin Kudang finally decide to return to his village. He
arrived wearing fine clothes and traveling on one of his ships. Someone arriving in such splendor
was uncommon to the villagers, so many of them went down to the harbor to view the sight.
One of the villagers recognized Malin Kundang form a scar that he had received while
playing as a child. Upon recognizing the mark, the villager went to tell Malin Kundang's mother
that her son had returned. Excitedly, she went to the shore and recognized her son the minute her
eyes fell on him.
When the older woman called him her son, he refused to believe that he head such an old
woman as a mother. His disbelief was heightened when his wife questioned why he had not told
her that he had an elderly, poor mother.
In an alternate translation, Malin Kundang was on the ship with just his crew. When his
mother attempted to embrace him, he was too embarrassed by her ragged appearance to
acknowledge her and instead, had one of them carry her away.
Distraught and finally realizing he son's wickedness, Malin Kundang's mother gave up on
her son's acknowledging her and prayed to her god to punish her son for his behavior.
The day after his mother's prayer, Malin Kudang sailed out of the village. Shortly
thereafter, the ships was met by a violent storm. Malin Kundang believed the storm was his god's
and nature's ways of punishing him for his mistreatment of his mother. He felt guilty about his
behavior towards her, asked for forgiveness, and began to pray. However, his repentance was too
late, for the ship was destroyed at sea. But, in some translations of the tale, Malin Kundang was
turned into coral. In other, the ship, the crew, and he become rock formations that are still
standing.

Dikutip dari buku 'American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales' karya Christopher R dan Jeffrey B
Webb berikut cerita Malin Kudang dalam Bahasa Inggris.
 JENDRAL SUDIRMAN

General Sudirman is one of the most popular figures in the history of the struggle of the
Indonesian nation. He was the first commander of the military, religious leaders, educators,
Muhammadiyah leader and a pioneer of guerrilla warfare in Indonesia. General Sudirman also
one of the five-star general in Indonesia besides General AH Nasution and General Suharto. He
was born in Bodas Karangjati, Purbalingga, Central Java, on January 24, 1916 and died in
Magelang, Central Java, January 29, 1950 at the age of 34 years of tuberculosis and is buried at
the Heroes Cemetery in semaki State Kusuma, Yogyakarta.
General Sudirman was born and raised in a modest family. His father, KARSID
Kartowirodji, was a worker at Sugar Factory Kalibagor, Banyumas, and his mother, Siyem,
bleary-eyed offspring Wedana Apex. Soedirman since the age of 8 months was appointed as a
child by R. Tjokrosoenaryo, an assistant district officer Apex is still a brother of Siyem. General
Sudirman acquire formal education from the School Garden Student. Then he went on to HIK
(school teacher), Muhammadiyah Surakarta but not until the end. Sudirman was also active at the
moment Scouts organization Hizbul Wathan. After that he became a teacher at his school in
Cilacap Muhammadiyah.
The knowledge gained from the Japanese military through education. After completing his
education at the MAP, he became a battalion commander in Kroya, Central Java. Later he
became the commander of Division V / Banyumas after TKR formed, and eventually was elected
Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia (Commander TKR). Sudirman
was known to have a private firm on principle and conviction, he always put the interests of
many people and nation above personal interests, even the interests of his own health. His
personality is written in a book by Tjokropranolo, bodyguard during the guerrilla, as someone
who is always consistent and consistent in defending the interests of the homeland, the nation
and the state. During the Japanese occupation, the Sudirman been a member of the People’s
Food Board and a member of the House of Representatives residency of Banyumas. In this time
he set up a cooperative to help the people from starvation.
After World War II, the Japanese surrendered unconditionally to the Allies. Sukarno used
the moment to declare the independence of Indonesia. Sudirman and his troops fought in
Banyumas, Central Java against the Japanese and captured weapons and ammunition. At that
time the Japanese position is still strong in Indonesia. MAP Soedirman organizing his battalion
into a regiment based in Banyumas, to become the army of the Republic of Indonesia which then
played a major role in the war Indonesian National Revolution.
 After the People’s Security Army (TKR) was formed, he was subsequently appointed as
Commander of Division V / Banyumas with the rank of Colonel. And through TKR Conference
on 12 November 1945, was elected Soedirman TKR Commander / Chief of the Armed Forces of
Indonesia. Later he began to suffer from tuberculosis, but he still falls within the guerrilla war
against the forces who want to master the Dutch NICA Indonesia after the Japanese surrender.
The first great war is a war led Soedirman Palagan Ambarawa against the British and
Dutch NICA which lasts from November to December 1945. In December 1945, forces led by
Sudirman TKR fought against the British army in Ambarawa. And on December 12, 1945,
Sudirman launched simultaneous attacks against all top notch British Ambarawa. Famous battle
which lasted for five days to end with the withdrawal of British troops to Semarang. The war
ended on December 16, 1945. After victories in the Sudirman Ambarawa Theater, on December
18, 1945 he was appointed as General by President Soekarno. Soedirman gained the rank of
General is not through the military academy or other higher education, but because of his
achievements.
General Sudirman still plunge into battle during the second Dutch military aggression in
the capital Yogyakarta. When the capital was moved to Yogyakarta, Indonesia as Jakarta has
mastered Belanda.Soedirman led his troops to defend Yogyakarta from the Dutch attack was on
December 19, 1948. In opposition, the health condition of General Sudirman was in a very weak
state of tuberculosis he suffered for a long time. Yogyakarta was then controlled by the Dutch,
although Indonesia was ruled by the army after General Offensive March 1, 1949. At that time,
President Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta and several cabinet members were also arrested by the
Dutch army. Because of the precarious situation, Soedirman crutches left with his troops and
return to guerrilla warfare.
He moved around for seven months from one forest to another forest, and from mountain
to mountain in sickness almost without treatment and medical care. Soedirman home of guerrilla
because his health condition does not allow her to lead the Armed Forces directly. After that just
a figure Soedirman planners behind the scenes in a guerrilla campaign against the Dutch. After
the Dutch surrender as the Indonesian archipelago States in the 1949 Round Table Conference in
The Hague, General Sudirman back to Jakarta with President Sukarno and Vice President
Mohammad Hatta. At the date January 29, 1950, General Sudirman died in Magelang, Central
Java illness suffered severe tuberculosis. He was buried in the Heroes Cemetery in semaki State
Kusuma, Yogyakarta. He was named the Defender of Independence hero. In 1997 he was
awarded posthumously to Major General of the five-star rank possessed only by a few generals
in Indonesia until now.