The Viral Feud Between Yai Mim and Sahara! When a Neighborhood Dispute Becomes a National Issue

NISRINA ISNAWATI (30802300024)

KH. Muhammad Imam Muslimin, also known as Yai Mim, is a former senior lecturer at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang. His dispute with his neighbor has been widely discussed on social media. His dispute with his neighbor, Sahara, a car rental business owner, caught the public's attention after a video clip of the two went viral on social media.

The tension between Yai Mim and Sahara stems from the use of land around their residences in Malang. According to Yai Mim, the access road in front of his house, which is considered waqf land, is being used by Sahara for business purposes. This includes parking rental vehicles and plans to build a goat pen.

Interestingly, Yai Mim's reprimand regarding the land use only fueled the discord. The argument escalated, culminating in a video of their altercation being shared on social media.

The situation escalated when a video showing the altercation between the two went viral online. The video, uploaded by Sahara with a caption that was considered to be defamatory to Yai Mim, reached its peak of virality when Yai Mim was seen rolling on the ground and then being taken to the police station with his head bandaged. The video clip sparked various comments from netizens, most of whom immediately accused Yai Mim of various things, including harassment and defamation. As a result of these accusations, on September 22, 2025, Yai Mim and his wife were evicted from their own home by local residents.

Finally, Yai Mim denied all of the accusations. He emphasized that he had only reprimanded the use of land that was considered inappropriate. “That is slander, framing that is very damaging to me and my family,” he said.

The case of Yai Mim and Sahara shows how a neighborhood dispute can escalate into a national issue when social media gets involved. Yai Mim's reputation as an academic is at stake, while Sahara must face equally intense public scrutiny. The case then moved to the legal realm. Sahara reported Yai Mim to the police, while Yai Mim's side also took legal action by reporting Sahara back. As a result, this neighborly dispute developed into a national issue that not only concerned personal matters, but also touched on aspects of waqf law, social ethics, and the image of an academic.

To now, the dispute between Yai Mim and Sahara is still being processed by the police. The public is waiting to see how it will be resolved: whether it will be pursued through legal channels until it is settled, or end with a peaceful agreement.

What is clear is that this case serves as a reminder that small issues in the neighborhood can escalate when triggered by the virality of social media.