Hang Jebat and Futures – Rebellion, Justice, and Imagining Alternatives

 

If Hang Tuah embodies loyalty in the Malay epic tradition, Hang Jebat represents rebellion. Where Tuah was remembered for obedience to the Sultan, Jebat is often celebrated—or condemned—for defying authority when he believed injustice had been done. This legendary tension between Tuah and Jebat is more than just a tale of friendship and betrayal; it is also a profound entry point into futures literacy.

Jebat as the voice of alternative futures

Futures literacy is about recognizing that the future is not singular, but plural. Hang Jebat embodies this principle: he refused to accept the “official future” dictated by the Sultan’s judgment. Instead, he imagined an alternative—a future where loyalty to justice was more important than loyalty to power. His rebellion reminds us that alternative futures often emerge from those who question assumptions and resist dominant narratives.

Justice vs. loyalty: a futures tension

The debate between Tuah and Jebat reflects two competing scenarios for society’s future:

• Tuah’s future: A stable but hierarchical order built on loyalty, even if it means personal sacrifice.
• Jebat’s future: A disruptive but potentially liberating order built on challenging unjust authority.

Futures literacy helps us see that both futures are not merely opposites but possibilities that coexist. The legend invites Malaysians to explore: what futures might emerge if Tuah’s loyalty dominates, and what futures if Jebat’s rebellion takes root?

Weak signals of Jebat’s relevance today

In modern Malaysia, Jebat’s voice surfaces whenever citizens push for reform, justice, or accountability. Protest movements, calls for transparency, or demands for fair governance echo the spirit of Jebat. These are weak signals—early indicators of societal desire for a future where justice tempers loyalty. Futures literacy teaches us to pay attention to such signals, not as noise, but as signs of possible transformations.

Jebat as a metaphor for civic courage

At its deepest level, the story of Hang Jebat is a metaphor about courage in uncertainty. He did not know if his rebellion would succeed; he acted because he could not imagine a meaningful future under injustice. This mirrors the essence of futures literacy: using the unknown not to paralyze us, but to fuel new narratives and new choices.

Hang Jebat challenges us to embrace futures literacy by refusing to see tomorrow as preordained. His defiance reminds us that multiple futures are always possible—and that justice, fairness, and accountability are futures worth fighting for. In the legendary clash between Tuah and Jebat lies a timeless lesson: to be futures literate is to balance loyalty with justice, obedience with imagination, and tradition with transformation.