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.