Malin Kundang

A Folktale from West Sumatra

Retold by Tsuraya Yahya

Once upon a time, in a village called Pantai Pasir Angin, lived a woman named Mande Rubayah. She was a widow. Her husband sailed to the city to find a better job, but he never came back. She had a son named Malin Kundang. Malin Kundang was the only one she had after her husband died. She loved her son so much. Mande Rubayah was so poor. She just sold cakes around the village for a living.

One day, Malin Kundang was severely sick. Mande Rubayah took care of him. Finally, Malin recovered from his serious illness. His mother loved him even more.

Years passed. Malin Kundang grew up. He has seen his mother worked so hard, but it was never enough to afford both their life. When a ship docked in his village, Malin decided to join that ship and sailed to the city. He wanted to find a better job. He talked to his mother about his plan.

“Mother, there is a ship sailing to the city. I will take that ship and find a job in the city, so we can have a better life.”

Her mother did not allow him to go.

“But son, the city is far away on the other island. What if something bad happens to you on that journey?” Mother said.

“Don’t worry mother. I can take care of myself. I’ll be fine,” Malin assured his mother.

Eventually, Mande Rubayah allowed Malin Kundang to go. She provided him with some food for his journey. The next day, Malin set off, leaving his village and his mother.

Days and months passed. Mande Rubayah did not hear anything about Malin Kundang. She was so worried. She wondered about Malin’s whereabout. She hoped that nothing bad happened to his son. She came to the dock almost everyday and asked every ship crews if they knew about Malin Kundang. Unfortunately, no one had ever heard about him.

Years had passed. Malin’s mother was getting older and grew weaker. Still, she had not got any news about her son, Malin Kundang. Until one day, she met the captain who took Malin on his ship. The captain told Mande Rubayah that his son had become rich, and he married a young rich beautiful woman. Mande Rubayah was very happy to hear it. However, months after Mande Rubayah heard news about Malin, Malin did not come back to his village.

One sunny day, a luxurious large ship was coming ashore. It docked at Pantai Air Manis. The villagers came and gathered on the shore. They thought that beautiful ship belonged to a prince or a king. They excitedly welcomed whoever boarded the ship.

When the ship docked, young couple came out and stood on the bow. They dressed elegantly. They were so happy that they kept smiling to the crowd who were welcoming them.

Malin’s mother saw the man standing on the bow. She was sure that he was Malin, her son. She ran toward him and hugged him. She told the man that she was his mother. Malin was shocked because the woman hugging him was so old and dressed in ragged clothes. His wife could not believe what she saw. 

She said insultingly, “Is that your mother? She is an ugly poor woman! You lied to me! You said that you came from a noble family!”

“She is not my mother!” Malin Kundang denied angrily.

“I am your mother, Malin. How could you don’t recognize me,” Malin’s mother cried.

“I don’t have a poor mother like you! Go away!” Malin pushed her mother. His mother fell down. 

“Malin, I am your mother,” she pleaded. 

Malin did not care and left her. The villagers couldn’t do anything, so they left Mande Rubayah. She just wept on the shore and she lumped on the sand. Malin’s ship was leaving. It sailed further away from Pantai Air Manis. He left his mother.

Malin’s mother was very sad. She couldn’t believe that her son denied her as his mother. She was deeply disappointed with him. Then, she prayed to God. 

“Lord, if he is not my son, I forgive him for what he has done to me. But, if he is truly my son, show me your justice. He’d better turned into a rock!”

Soon, the sky grew darker. Hard rain started. A huge storm hit the sea.

In the morning after the storm, the sun shone so brightly. A big rock that looked like a ship stood on the shore. There was also a rock resembled a human body. Those are Malin Kundang’s ship and himself that turned into rocks. Or so the legend said.

Moral Value:

Love your mother, and always listen to her. Treat her well, and never disobey her.