Malin Kundang

Once upon a time on the north coast of Sumatera lived a poor woman and her son. The boy was called

Malin Kundang. They didn’t earn much, as fishing was their only source of income. However, they still

lived in poverty. One day, Malin Kundang asked to his mother.

“Mother, what if I sail overseas?” Asked Malin Kundang.

At first, his mother did not agree. Malin had made up her mind.

“Mother, if I stay here, I will always be a poor man. I want to become a successful person.” Urged

Malin Kundang.

“Malin, my son, if you really want to go, I cannot stop you. I could only pray to God for you to have

success in life.”

And the next day, Malin Kundang was ready to go. There was a big ship waiting for him.

“Malin, take a good care of yourself, my son. I will miss you so much.”

And then his mother hugged him tight as if she didn’t want to let him go.

“Mother, don’t worry about me. I will be fine. I promise that I will keep in touch with you.”

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months and months turned into years. Yet, she still hadn’t

heard any news from her son. She would pray for him every night, hoping that one day her son would

come back to become the successful man he promised.

And then one day, she finally saw a big ship. She was shocked, there stood a beautiful woman and a

familiar face. She knew she recognized his face, it was Malin Kundang, her son. She came running.

“Malin, my son!”

But Malin Kundang was ashamed to admit his own mother in front of his beautiful wife.

“Who are you? I don’t know you. My mother would never wear such ugly clothes!”

“Malin, my son. You don’t remember me? It’s me, your own mother.”

“Huh, funny! Guards! Take this old woman out of here. I don’t want to see her again.”

“Don’t you remember? Malin, my son, how could you do this?”

And then she was taken out by the bodyguards. She sat alone and prayed to God.

“Dear god, if he isn’t my son, please let him have a save journey. But, if he is, I curse him to become a

stone!”

Suddenly, in the quiet sea, the wind blew so hard. The thunderstorm came, his whole ship was shaking.

Malin Kundang’s body slowly turned stiff and then slowly but sure, he became a stone. He was

punished for not admitting his own mother.