The Legend of Malin Kundang
This story tells of a child who disobeyed his mother, so he was cursed to become a stone. The story of Malin Kundang is very popular, so it has been adapted into many other art forms. Starting from the drama entitled Malin Kundang by Wisran Hadi in 1978, a soap opera with the same title in 2005-2006, an online game designed by IAIN Surakarta which was released in 2016, to becoming the theme of the Musikal di Rumah Aja which was worked on by Indonesia Kaya in 2020. In addition, this legendary story also inspired artists Dasril Bayras and Ibenzani Usman to create stone reliefs in the form of ship fragments and human figures depicting Malin Kundang. This work is located on Air Manis Beach and has been a tourist attraction since the 1980s.
This story focuses on two main characters, Malin Kundang and Ibu Mande. As the main character, Malin has a character development that has succeeded in making the audience amazed. Starting from a child who is obedient to his parents, Malin changes drastically into an arrogant and disobedient figure. Ibu Mande is described as a patient and hard-working mother. Other supporting roles such as Malin's wife and the people from his new life are described as neutral characters even though they do not know the truth of Malin's story.
Check out the full story of Malin Kundang's life below.
Ibu Mande Rubayah and Malin Kundang
Once upon a time, in a fishing village in Air Manis, West Sumatra, there lived a family of fishermen. Due to the family's financial needs, the father finally decided to go to migrate across the ocean.
However, the father never returned to the village and left his wife, Mande Rubayah. The wife then raised their child, Malin, alone. By his mother, Malin was often invited (taken everywhere). Therefore, the child got a new nickname, Malin Kundang.
Malin grew up as a smart child, but a little naughty. Malin often chased chickens and hit them with a broom. One day, when Malin was chasing chickens, Malin fell and hit his hand on a rock. The wound left a mark on his arm.
Growing up, Malin felt sorry for his mother who had to struggle to support them, so he intended to migrate with a merchant ship. When he told her about his intention, his mother did not allow Malin to go.
Ibu Mande was not willing to be left by her only child. Ibu Mande was also afraid that Malin would be like his father who left and never returned to the village.
Malin Kundang Migrates and Becomes Successful
Although his mother refused, Malin did not stop persuading her. Seeing Malin's persistence, Ibu Mande allowed him to go, although with a heavy heart. After convincing his mother that he would be fine, Malin said goodbye and left Ibu Mande alone in the village.
While sailing on his journey, a bad incident happened to the ship that Malin was on so that he was stranded on a beach. The villagers on the beach welcomed and helped Malin to live and work there.
Malin worked very diligently cultivating the fertile village land and became increasingly successful. Malin had 100 workers and a number of his own trading ships. After successfully becoming rich, Malin married the daughter of a wealthy merchant.
Meanwhile, Ibu Mande never received any news from Malin after his departure. For years, Ibu Mande could only look at the sea while praying that her son would be safe and send news, or even return to the village.
Every time a large ship docked in the village, Ibu Mande always asked the captain and crew about her son. However, no one ever brought news or a message from Malin.
Malin Kundang Returns to His Hometown
One day, Malin, his wife and several crew members went sailing on a large ship. After sailing for a while, the ship anchored at an island. Without realizing it, it turned out to be Malin's hometown.
Seeing the large ship anchored, the villagers, including Ibu Mande, gathered in droves on the shore. They wanted to welcome the ship that they thought belonged to a sultan or prince.
From a distance, a pair of young men and women were seen standing on the bridge, wearing luxurious clothes. Ibu Mande saw and realized that the young man was Malin. As soon as the ship anchored and the two young men got off the ship, Ibu Mande ran to her son.
Up close, Ibu Mande saw the scar on the young man's arm and became increasingly convinced that the young man was Malin. She then hugged Malin, calling his name and asking how he was.
Malin Kundang Disobedient
Malin's wife who was standing near Malin was shocked to see an old woman dressed in rags hugging her husband while claiming to be his mother. Understandably, Malin had claimed that his parents were both nobles and had died.
Malin's wife then asked Malin about who the woman really was. Because he was ashamed of his wife, Malin then pushed his mother and said rudely to Ibu Mande.
Malin did not acknowledge her as his mother and said that his mother was not like Ibu Mande who was dirty and poor. After that, Malin ordered his wife and men to hurry back to the ship to sail.
Malin Kundang Cursed to Become a Stone
The old Ibu Mande lay on the sand, crying, and heartbroken until she fainted. After finally regaining consciousness, Ibu Mande lived alone on the beach and the villagers who had been busy had left her. Ibu Mande also saw that Malin and his wife's ship had sailed far from the beach. While crying, Ibu Mande knelt down and raised her hands to pray to God.
Mrs. Mande prayed that if the young man was not Malin Kundang, Mrs. Mande would forgive his actions. However, if the young man was really Malin Kundang, then Mrs. Mande cursed him to become a stone.
After Mother Mande prayed, the sky that was previously bright suddenly turned dark. Heavy rain and storms appeared. Malin's ship that was sailing was shattered into pieces by lightning.
The next day when the storm had subsided, the wreckage of the ship that had turned into rocks was swept by the waves to an island. Among the wreckage that washed up on the beach, there was a rock shaped like a human body bowing down, along with anchovies, mullet, and mackerel swimming between the rocks.
The local people believe that the stone is Malin's body which was cursed to turn into stone because of his disobedience to his mother, and the fish around him are pieces of Malin's wife's body who are looking for her husband.
Moral Message of the Malin Kundang Story
The main lesson contained in the Malin Kundang story is that a child must always respect the parents who have raised him. In addition, another lesson that can be learned is that we must always be humble and not arrogant with all the success that has been achieved.
Finally, we must also always be honest in our actions. Because, lies or cheating that is done will definitely be revealed later. Just like Malin who lied about his parents' background, and finally became disobedient because he was ashamed of his own lies.