Short Story: Malin Kundang

 

In Indonesia, there are many famous stories from different places.

 

Today I will tell you a famous story from Sumatera Barat. It’s called Malin Kundang.

 

MALIN KUNDANG

 

 

In a village in Padang, there was a poor widow who worked as a fisherwoman. She had a son, named Malin Kundang.

 

When Malin Kundang had grown up, he went to a city to work. He met a rich merchant and got married to his beautiful daughter.

 

Malin never visited his mother in the village. His mother really missed him.

 

One day Malin and his wife went by boat, but there was something wrong with the boat. They had to stop at the village where Malin was born and raised.

 

Malin’s mother saw Malin. She ran and hugged Malin dearly, “Oh Malin, finally you are home!”

 

His wife was shocked, “Is she your mom?”

“No. She is not my mom. My mom died already.” Malin Kundang felt so embarrased.

 

Hearing that, his mom was so angry.

“What a wicked son! I curse you to become a stone!” shout Malin Kundang’s mother.

 

Right away, there was a thunder from the sky, and Malin Kundang turned into a stone.

 

 

Moral: Honor your mother.

 

Here is the story in Bahasa Indonesia. Can you read it out loud?

 

MALIN KUNDANG

 

 

 

Di sebuah desa di Padang, ada seorang janda miskin yang bekerja sebagai nelayan. Ia punya seorang anak laki-laki bernama Malin Kundang.

 

Saat Malin Kundang mulai dewasa, ia pergi ke kota untuk bekerja. Di sana ia bertemu dengan saudagar kaya dan menikahi anaknya yang cantik.

 

Lama sekali Malin tidak pulang. Ibunya sangat merindukan Malin.

 

Suatu hari Malin mengajak istrinya berlayar. Tapi karena kapalnya rusak, mereka harus mendarat di desa nelayan, tempat Malin Kundang lahir dan dibesarkan.

 

Ibu Malin melihat Malin. Ia langsung berlari dan memeluk anaknya dengan penuh kasih sayang, “Oh Malin, akhirnya kau pulang…”

 

Isterinya Malin terkejut dan bertanya, “Apa dia ibumu?”

“Bukan. Dia bukan ibuku. Ibuku sudah meninggal.”

Malin Kundang malu dengan keadaan ibunya.

Mendengar itu, hati ibunya sangat marah.

“Anak durhaka, aku kutuk kau menjadi batu!” seru ibu Malin Kundang.

Saat itu juga, Malin Kundang berubah menjadi batu.

Moral: Hormatilah ibumu.

 

Vocabulary

desa	village
janda	widow
bekerja	work
nelayan	fisherman/fisherwoman
anak laki-laki	son
dewasa	grown up
saudagar	merchant
cantik	beautiful
lama	long time
pulang	go home
merindukan	miss
berlayar	go by boat
kapal	boat
lahir	born
dibesarkan	to be raised
melihat	see
berlari	run
memeluk	hug
kasih sayang	love
akhirnya	finally
terkejut	shocked
bertanya	ask
meninggal	died
mendengar	hear
marah	angry
durhaka	wicked
kutuk	curse
batu	rock
hormat	honor

 

Pertanyaan

1.       Cerita Malin Kundang berasal dari daerah mana?

2.       Apa pekerjaan ibunya Malin Kundang?

3.       Kemana Malin Kundang pergi setelah ia besar?

4.       Mengapa ibunya Malin Kundang marah?

5.       Apa kutukan ibu Malin Kundang terhadap anaknya?

6.       Apa pesan moral dari cerita ini?

 

Can you answer the questions?

If you’d like to, you can answer them in the comment below.

 

I hope you are a good child who respects and honors your mom. Let’s love her, because without her, we won’t be here today. You’ll never regret it when you show her how much you love her.

 

Love,

Mama Bahasa