Malin Kundang was a poor boy from Indonesia who helped fight off pirates attacking a trader's ship. The grateful trader employed Malin, who worked hard and became very wealthy, buying a large ship and marrying. Years later when Malin's ship returned to his home village, he refused to acknowledge his mother and claimed to never have had a poor peasant woman for a mother. His mother prayed for punishment, and a thunderstorm sank Malin's ship, with Malin turning into stone on an island as retribution for his cruelty.

1. Indonesian Folktale

2. A long time ago, in a small
beach in western Indonesia,
lived a woman and her son
namely Malin Kundang. They
were poor, but Malin
Kundang was a healthy strong
boy who was a good boatman
and swimmer. He went to the
sea to catch fish which he and
his mother ate or sold in town.

3. One day, he saw a trader’s
ship in trouble. It was being
raided by a small band of
pirates. Malin Kundang
helped and fought off the
pirates. The trader was very
grateful and impressed by
Malin’s strength and bravery.
He asked Malin to work with
him. Malin asked his
mother’s permission. His
mother allowed him to go.
She prayed for Malin’s safety
and health.

4. Malin made lots
of money. He
bought a huge
ship of his own
and married a
beautiful
woman.

5. Many years later,
Malin’s ship landed
on the small beach
where he grew up.
People recognized
him, and the news
travelled around the
village. His mother,
who had been sad
and lonely without
him, heard the news
and ran to the beach
to meet her beloved
son.

6. Malin, wearing his expensive
clothes and standing beside
his beautiful wife, didn’t
recognize his mother and
refused to greet the poor old
woman. His mother begged
for him three times, but he
declined. At last Malin
shouted: “Enough, old
woman! I have never had a
dirty poor peasant woman
like you as my mother!” Then
he ordered his crews to set
sail.

7. His mother was
sad. She prayed to
God that if that
man was her son,
she asked God to
give him
punishment.
Suddenly, a
thunderstorm
descended. Malin’s
ship was tossed to
huge waves and
sank.

8. Malin was
thrown from
the ship
onto a small
island and
turned into
stone.