Malin Kundang is a popular folktale in Indonesian folklore that originated in the province of West Sumatra.

The folktale tells of an ungrateful son named Malin Kundang and centers around the themes of disobedience and retribution that turned him into stone.

Aside from this folktale, there are several other similar variations across South East Asia including Si Tanggang and Nakhoda Manis that originated in Malaysia and Brunei.

[1] The legend of Malin Kundang stems from the people of Minangkabau who are located in the highlands of West Sumatra, Indonesia.

Minangkabau is the largest ethnic group on the island that is home to many cultural folktales, with Malin Kundang being one of them.

[1] In Minangkabau culture, the socio-cultural values and beliefs that are used as a guideline for the community is called local wisdom.

The moral lessons and deeper interpretation of Malin Kundang is a reflection of the values in Minangkabau's previous and current society.

It is a way of preserving their tradition and promoting these values to the current and future generations of the Minangkabau people.

[1] Every morning, she stood at the edge of the pier and stared at the ocean as she waited for her son's return.

Amidst the pieces of the ship was a human-shaped boulder that was believed to be Malin Kundang in a kneeling position.

Despite all the struggles that he and his mother overcame and her selfless acts of kindness towards him, Malin chose to deny his humble origins.

Similar to the story, the stone depicts Malin Kundang in a kneeling position, illustrating him begging for forgiveness.

These additional rock formations are created to resemble typical supplies and equipment that sailors bring in a ship such as ropes and wooden barrels.

The story tells of a son named Manis who is raised by a wealthy widow and lived in a village called Kampong Ayer.

His mother amassed her riches through the death of his father and hopes to pass down their great wealth to Manis when he got older.

She prayed for him everyday for decades since his departure and spent all her riches in these prayers, hoping that a higher power will bring her son home safely.

The story tells of a son named Si Tanggang who lived in a fishing village with his mother and father.

One day, the villages saw a big ship and the news of the captain being Tanggang immediately spread to his parents.