Almost every culture has folk-heroes. They would champion the
plight of the weak against a tyrant ruler or the forces of tyranny. From Robinhood to
Zoro, such people remain as legendary figures of justice and righteousness who would
inspire many more people onto to similar paths of selflessness.
According to legend, Robin of the Hood was of noble descent who would return to the people
what the rich landlords and barons had taken unjustifiably from the peasantry.
"Stealing from the rich to give to the poor," as the saying went.
And who could forget Zoro. He was a gentleman, a Spanish Don who took pity on the Mexican
peasantry who were continually exploited and oppressed by the Spaniards. As legend has it,
he would appear just in the nick of time, in his famous black attire and with his face
hidden behind a black mask, to save Mexican peasants from almost certain doom.
Of course, one must take into account that as centuries pass, such folk-heroes tend to
become larger than life. Their imperfections are conveniently forgotten or glossed over
and their deeds are made to be more grand sounding than what could have actually
transpired. Still, the fact that they fought generally on the side of the weak and
oppressed remains unchanged.
Indeed, that is what heroes are made of - their willingness to fight on the side of the
weak so as to tip the balance in favour of the oppressed.
Thus one cannot help but wonder why Malaysians, especially Malays, look to Hang Tuah as a
legendary hero? Was it not fundamental in his character to obey his master without
question? If so, how can there be any considerations for fighting on the side of truth and
justice because of his unthinking nature?
Perhaps it is not fair to pass judgement on Hang Tuah, especially when he has been dead
for nearly five centuries now (albeit legend has it that Hang Tuah is still alive and
well). And legendary heroes being what they are, they tend to become larger than life.
Thus what needs to be analysed is not just the man as he has been made out to be by
soothsayers and storytellers throughout generations but also Hang Tuah as he could have
originally been (albeit only Allah knows the true worth of the man). At the very least, it
would shed new light on other legendary characters associated with him.
According to the legend of Hang Tuah as popularly recounted, ultimate evil lies in Jebat
(Tuah's best friend turned arch rival) regardless of what the tyrant Raja had done to his
most loyal servant, Tuah. Although the Raja was wrong to believe in the slanders (fitnah)
of those who were jealous of Tuah, Jebat was wrong in avenging the supposed death of Tuah
by revolting against their common master, the tyrant Raja.
Notice that nowhere in the legend is there any mention of the common people, except that
when Jebat went amok it is said that he killed people indiscriminately.
And the only reason why he was powerful enough to mount a revolt was because of a magical
Malay dagger (keris) called keris Tamingsari which made him invincible (kebal).
Jebat was also said to have made the Raja's concubines (gundek-gundek) into his
own after successfully unseating the Raja from his throne. And for what seemed like days
on ends, Jebat did what he pleased at the royal palace until he was finally deposed by
Hang Tuah.
Again no mention is made of the common people. For many, the reason for this may be all
too obvious - the legend of Hang Tuah has been concocted and perpetuated by the royal or
"noble" class or, rather, caste. They would tell the story in a way that would
safeguard their interests regardless of truth and justice.
For that matter, Tuah may have actually been the loyal and unquestioning servant who cared
for nothing other than the pleasure of his master. And maybe the common people were indeed
insignificant because of the culture of total obedience to the Raja which prevailed during
those times. But even so, the fact that the tale has been proudly recounted to generations
of Malays who are also Muslims is truly amazing.
How can generation upon generation of Muslims who are guided by the teachings of Islam on
justice for all, regardless of kith or kin, be they rich or poor, accept such a twisted
tale without question, let alone be proud of it? And amazingly, Islam for the Malays
reaches all the way back to Parameswara, the founder of Melaka in the early period of the
15th century.
Perhaps there is more to the legend of Hang Tuah than what Malaysians have all been led to
believe; or at the very least, the legend itself calls for revisionist thinking. That is
to say, the legend desperately needs reinterpretation but in a way that would not alter
the content of the legend too much whilst ensuring that its focus is shifted to something
more tenable or real.
Recall that it was Jebat and only Jebat who began the rebellion. He did what was
unthinkable during those times because it was simply the right thing to do. "Justice
has been done," claimed the Raja when Tuah was put to death for disloyalty (durhaka).
To Jebat, however, justice had yet to be seen to be done.
Nonetheless open rebellion was not a matter to be taken lightly. Otherwise, during his
appointment as the new Captain General (Ketua Panglima), Jebat would have used
the opportunity of having the keris Tamingsari handed over to him by the Raja to
immediately thrust it into the Raja's heart. Soon enough, however, Jebat's hesitation on
the matter would be put to rest.
After the supposed demise of Tuah, the evil conspirators in the Raja's court took every
opportunity to poison the Raja's mind against Jebat with the same accusations they had
made against Tuah. They began by pointing out that unquestioning obedience was never
really Jebat's strong point. Of course, he did exhibit some sense of loyalty to the Raja
but, unlike Tuah, Jebat would almost always seek to reason out his master's orders before
carrying them out.
Indeed, this was perhaps why the Raja tended to prefer Tuah over him. And seeing how Jebat
has become somewhat disturbed by the execution of Tuah, these conspirators used his lack
of attentiveness in the daily affairs of the Raja's court as a sign that Jebat was now
questioning the Raja himself.
Interestingly enough, had Jebat been a schemer, the corrupting influence of power - what
with the keris Tamingsari safely in his hands - would have caused all those
ignoble souls in the Raja's court to side with him in his upcoming revolt. Jebat's
"ascension" to the throne would have seen wave after wave of purges in the ranks
of the nobles, especially the direct descendants of the Raja, save those who conspire with
Jebat. However, all this did not happen because Jebat would have no part in it and the
conspirators knew it.
So the day finally came when the Raja confronted Jebat. Jebat explained that he cannot but
question the Raja's wisdom, firstly in executing Tuah based on false accusations and
secondly in continuing to seek the counsel of those who conspired against Tuah. That
marked the beginning of Jebat's open rebellion.
As legend has it, a spectacular fight ensued between Jebat and the royal guards who tried
to cease him. Whether it was the keris Tamingsari or Jebat's own silat (kung
fu) skills that saved him, Jebat prevailed.
The Raja managed to escape to safety. And for what seemed like days on ends, Jebat ruled
the palace and its grounds - the seat of the Melaka empire.
Many of the nobles who sympathised with Jebat were too afraid to come to his aid and those
that did found members of their family either murdered or held to ransom and their
property destroyed. Jebat's own family and relatives had gone into hiding. Some of them
managed to emigrate to other lands in safety while others were not so fortunate.
And at one stage, all that was left of Jebat's supporters were the few who had nothing
else to lose and the Raja's many, many concubines who stayed not because of any threat of
violence held out against them by Jebat and his men but out of their own choice.
Soon enough though, as word of Jebat's rebellion traveled through the land, his following
began to grow. It even prompted small pockets of rebellion against minor overlords that
the people perceived to be tyrannical.
In fact, had Tuah not reappeared from hiding, the situation would have degenerated into an
outright civil war. Tuah's reappearance gave pause to the small pockets of fighting
throughout the land. The people were eager to know on which side Tuah was fighting.
Unfortunately, to the chagrin of those who saw justice in Jebat's cause, they found out
that Tuah was on the side of the Raja.
The Raja had struck a deal with Tuah - in exchange for a full pardon, Tuah was to heal the
land. Tuah agreed.
At first, Jebat could not believe what he was hearing. He would dismiss rumours of Tuah's
return from the dead as the common people's wish for a miracle. When the rumours refused
to subside, Jebat reasoned that it could only have been an imposter, one he could easily
expose when the time came.
What a shock it was for Jebat when it was indeed Tuah who appeared at the palace gates.
And by Tuah's side was the Datuk Bendahara who was eager to confirm the fact that
the former Captain General did not die but was hidden by him without the Raja's knowledge.
Tuah was duly invited up to the palace by Jebat and when they met at the palace steps,
they were both so overcome by emotions that for a while neither could speak. After all,
words were not really important especially when they both knew why Tuah was here at the
Royal Palace.
For the first time since Tuah's fall from grace, Jebat shed a tear for his friend and for
himself. All that Jebat did was for justice and the love for his best friend, and now that
same person has come to repay him by killing him.
"When do we begin?" was the first words spoken by Jebat. "Whenever you are
ready," replied Tuah. They were both superb martial arts exponents. So legend would
have it that their duel lasted for days. And in between fights they would rest and pray.
They even had the opportunity to reminisce old times.
All the while though, Jebat was trying to gauge his best friend's determination as well as
reassess the man's character. And the longer the fight lasted the more disillusioned Jebat
became, especially when their time together seemed to have done nothing to change Tuah's
resolve in wanting to kill him.
Indeed, this did not surprise Jebat since it had always been Tuah's nature to carry out
the Raja's orders to the very end. Jebat's utter disillusionment, however, caused his
anger to overwhelm him.
Jebat's sudden burst of anger fueled his fighting pace so drastically that it caught Tuah
off guard giving Jebat the opening he needed to thrust the keris Tamingsari
through Tuah's lower abdomen. But to Tuah's surprise, Jebat did not take it. They both
knew that fatal blow would have put an end to their duel once and for all.
Dumbfounded, Tuah did not move or attempt to belatedly counter what would have been Jebat's
victory blow. And as abruptly as the duel started, it ended with Jebat slowly getting up
from his low attack stance.
"I cannot bring myself to kill you... even when I have lost control of my anger...
totally," said Jebat between breaths. "The outcome... is decided." Slowly,
Jebat sat in mid-prayer position and laid the keris Tamingsari on the wooden
floor in front of him. After a long pause, Jebat said, "Fulfil the wish of our
master."
Without the slightest hesitation, Tuah thrust his keris into Jebat's left breast but he
did not drive it right through Jebat's back. And before retrieving the keris, Tuah uttered
softly in Jebat's left ear, "Forgive me, my brother. The people must stand united. It
is for the good of the nation." Tuah then quickly retracted his keris.
By then Jebat had felt no pain. Tuah's poison laced keris had put him in a state of
unconsciousness almost as soon as Tuah's last words were uttered. And Jebat would have
died soon after had Tuah not applied an antidote which he carried secretly in a pouch
hidden in his belt.
After applying the antidote, with a heavy heart, Tuah picked up the keris Tamingsari
and sheathed it in his belt in place of his own keris. He then lifted Jebat's limp body in
his arms, brought Jebat outside and slowly laid him on the palace's front lawn.
Upon seeing Tuah, the Raja's supporters began cheering over and over, "Hidup Hang
Tuah! Daulat Tuanku!" (Long live Hang Tuah! Mighty is the Raja!) They even
rushed onto the palace grounds to confront the remnants of Jebat's supporters. But Tuah
called them to a halt by drawing the keris Tamingsari in a threatening manner.
After he was sure that he had attracted everyone's attention, in a low, menacing voice,
Tuah uttered, "They are now under my protection." And when satisfied that
everyone had understood, Tuah sheathed the keris Tamingsari and said "Go and
make preparations for our beloved Raja's return."
To this the Raja's supporters erupted with joy and continued shouting their cheer
"Hidup Hang Tuah! Daulat Tuanku!" over and over.
One of the Raja's concubines whom Jebat had on occasion confided in during his rebellion
came up to Tuah and asked, "What will become of us?"
Tuah replied, "No harm will come to any of you. That was part of the agreement."
"What about Panglima Hang Jebat?" she asked using the honorific for warrior
General in reference to Jebat.
Tuah answered, "The Raja wanted him dead. That was part of the agreement too."
"But he will not die, will he?" she remarked. "I saw what you did."
Tuah replied, "Just as he could not bring himself to kill me, I can never bring
myself to kill him. Go now. Heal his wound."
"He will live, but his good name and that of his descendants would be tarnished
forever," she remarked further.
To this Tuah replied almost sagely, "Someday, our descendants will understand. They
will know the truth. And with that knowledge and understanding - who knows? - maybe they
will find another way."
Ahmad Faiz bin Abdul Rahman
29 October 1998.
-----------------------------
[[Currently, he is the Assistant Director of the International Movement for a Just World
(JUST). He was also a Researcher for the Institute of Islamic Understanding, Malaysia
(IKIM)].]
