The Legend of Malin Kundang
Once upon a time, in a small village on the coast of West Sumatra, there lived a poor widow named Mande Rubayah and her only son, Malin Kundang. They lived a humble life, with Mande Rubayah working tirelessly to provide for her son.
As Malin grew older, he became determined to change their fate. One day, he decided to leave the village and seek his fortune. Despite his mother’s pleas to stay, Malin boarded a ship and set sail, promising to return once he had made his fortune.
Years passed, and Malin worked hard, eventually becoming a wealthy and successful merchant. He married a beautiful woman and lived a life of luxury. However, he forgot about his promise to his mother and never returned to his village.
One day, Malin’s ship docked at his home village. Mande Rubayah, overjoyed to hear of her son’s return, rushed to the harbor to greet him. However, when Malin saw his poor, ragged mother, he was ashamed and refused to acknowledge her. He denied knowing her and ordered his crew to set sail immediately.
Heartbroken and humiliated, Mande Rubayah prayed to God to punish her ungrateful son. As Malin’s ship sailed away, a violent storm suddenly appeared. The ship was struck by lightning and turned to stone, along with Malin and his crew.
To this day, it is said that the stone remains on the coast of West Sumatra, a reminder of the consequences of ingratitude and disobedience.
What was Malin Kundang's initial motivation for leaving his village?