The Legend of Malin Kundang

An old woman and her son lived in a little village. Her son was called Malin Kundang. They were very poor but they loved each other very much.

One day Malin Kundang told his mother that he would go to town and work there. At first his mother did not allow him but finally she let him go with tears.Malin Kundang worked hard in a big town and in a short time he became a rich man. However he completely forgot his poor old mother. 

Some years later he sailed to a harbor near his village. When his mother heard about this news she came to meet him. Malin Kundang pretended not to know her. He said, “You are not my mother. Go away!” His mother became very sad and before she went she said, “Oh, Malin Kundang, you are a wicked son. You’ll never be safe now. You and your money will turn to stone.”

Some days later his ship left the harbor. The sea was calm but when he reached the open sea there was a great storm. The ship was drowned. Malin Kundang and his money changed into a stone.

Now people call it Batu Si Malin Kundang. We can see the stone from Air Manis, a village on the coast of West Sumatra near Padang.