Malin Kundang

Once upon a day, there was a young boy named Malin Kundang. He was a very diligent boy and has big ambitions to get out of this island and to get rich. Every day he would help his mum collect wood, cooking, and sweep the floor.

"Mum, let me help you sweep the floor!" said Malin.

"Are you sure dear? That's very kind of you," replied Mum.

He was liked by everyone in the village he lived in because he was so kind and diligent. When he meets a fellow villager he would greet them with kindness.

Once he was 16, he wanted to pursue his dreams to get out of this island. Originally his mum didn't like that idea because she was afraid and worried that he would not come back. But Malin convinced his mum that he would come back and be rich when he came back.

"Mum, I'd like to travel outside the island, beyond the seas so I can get rich!" said Malin.

"Why do you want to go outside so much Malin? What if the outside is a harsh place? What if anything happens to you?" asked mum worriedly.

"The outside world is vast and there are countless opportunities to be successful, mum. This is my dream. I'm sure that if I go outside, I will be able to get rich. And don't worry mum, nothing will happen to me and I will visit you every so often when I get rich," replied Malin Kundang with confidence.

Malin was determined to get to the outside world. He then proceeds to bid farewell to his mum and the villagers. He got into a ship that goes to a neighbouring big country called Badang. Little did he know of what was about to happen. In the middle of the journey in the sea, his ship was suddenly attacked by pirates. He panicked and so he hid in a barrel. He felt regret for not listening to his mum and stayed on the island. But there was nothing to be done, he could only hope and continue with his journey. Luckily he was not discovered by the pirates. He felt relieved but then he realized that everybody else including the captain had been killed by the pirates. He was lost on what to do.

There was nothing he could do but to wait and hope that the wind will carry the ship ashore in a big country. Several unbearable days have passed and there was finally a shore in sight. Malin was finally relieved of his despair.

"Help me! Help me, somebody!" shouted Malin as loud as he could.

Luckily somebody heard him and rescued him. He was asked how he got into this position by the rescuer. He proceeds to explain what happened from the beginning.

"Well, how unlucky of you! But you're lucky as well because, here is the neighbouring big country you were talking about, Badang!" exclaimed the rescuer.

"Is that true? I truly am grateful for your rescue!" said Malin sincerely.

Malin was indeed very lucky that someone rescued him and he was brought to The Country of Badang. This is the place where he dreamt of getting into all these years. In this place, he would encounter many opportunities to get rich and successful. Malin was determined to be successful.

Five years of labouring hard work has passed. He is now well known in The Country of Badang. Everybody knows him and how he earned all his money by himself through hard work. He now has a beautiful wife, who was the daughter of a successful merchant. However as he got richer and more famous, he began to act more arrogantly and slowly lost his kindness and sincereness. 

One day, his wife asked if they could visit his home island. She very much wanted to visit his home island and to meet Malin's mother. Malin, who loves his wife so much, couldn't bring himself to deny the request. 

"Very well dear, I'll do whatever you want!" said Malin helplessly.

A few days later, they set off to Malin's home island in a luxury ship. Their journey in the sea was quite peaceful and arrived within a week. They encountered no danger, no pirates, and no storms. 

When the ship arrived at the dock of the island, it caused quite a commotion because it was really seldom for a luxury ship to visit this island. Of course, Malin's mother was there too. When she saw who it was, she was shocked and happy. When she saw Malin, she immediately ran towards him and came to hug him.

However, when Malin took notice of his mother, he ignored her. 

"Who is that old lady?" asked Malin's wife. 

"Oh, I don't know her," replied Malin nervously.

He didn't want anybody to find out that he has a poor mother, so he didn't acknowledge her. 

"I am your mother Malin! How can you not recognise me?" said Malin's mother while tears began to come out of her eyes. 

"I don't have a mother, she's already dead!" replied Malin with a harsh voice.

Malin's mother suddenly dropped to her knees. She was very shocked, angry, and sad after seeing how Malin treats her. She has been raising Malin since he was a baby and now after he's successful, he doesn't acknowledge her. 

Everyone at the scene was sympathizing with the mother. They knew how she's been lonely ever since Malin has gone to Badang.

"How dare you Malin! How dare you not recognise your very own mother! I curse that you will turn into a stone!" said the mother while crying

A short while later, thunder suddenly appeared out of nowhere and struck Malin. Slowly, Malin began to turn into a stone statue starting from his feet to his head.

"What's happening?!" said Malin, shocked.

"What's happening to me!"

"Please somebody help me!"

"Please my dear wife help me!"

"Please mother, help me! I'm so-"

At last, he asked for his mother's help and tried to ask for forgiveness. But he was too late. By the time he tried to apologize, he had fully turned into a stone. 

The moral of this story is to always be respectful and kind to your parents. Without your parents, you would not be able to do anything in life even if you worked really hard.