Malin Kundang was a healthy, dilligent, and strong boy. He usually went to the sea to catch fish. After getting fish he would bring it to his mother, or sell the caught fish in the town.
One day, when Malin Kundang was sailing, he saw a merchant's ship which was being raided by a small band of pirates. He helped the merchant. With his bravery and power, Malin Kundang defeated the pirates. The merchant was so happy and thanked him. In return, the merchant asked Malin Kundang to sail with him. To get a better life, Malin Kundang agreed. He left his mother alone.
Many years later, Malin Kundang became wealthy. He had a huge ship and was helped by many ship crews loading trading goods. Perfectly he had a beautiful wife too. When he was sailing his trading journey, his ship landed on a beach near a small village. The villagers recognized him. The news ran fast in the town; "Malin Kundang has become rich and now he is here".
An old woman ran to the beach to meet the new rich merchant. She was Malin Kundang's mother. She wanted to hug him, releasing her sadness of being lonely after so long a time. Unfortunately, when the mother came, Malin Kundang who was in front of his well dressed wife and his ship crews denied meeting that old lonely woman.
For three times her mother begged Malin Kundang and for three times he yelled at her. At last Malin Kundang said to her "Enough, old woman! I have never had a mother like you, a dirty and ugly woman!" After that he ordered his crews to set sail. He would leave the old mother again but in that time she was full of both sadness and anger.