Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

Dato' Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor (محمد سنوسي بن مد نور; ; born 4 August 1974 ) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah since May 2020, respectively, and Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Jeneri since May 2018. He was the Leader of the Opposition of the state from July 2018 until the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state administration led by his predecessor Mukhriz Mahathir in May 2020. A member of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), he is the party's Deputy Commissioner I of the state. His tenure as Menteri Besar of Kedah is characterised by a series of political gaffes, scandals, bizarre claims and strained relationships with the federal government and other state governments in Malaysia, including a disparaging remark he had made against the Sultan of Selangor in 2023, as well as claiming that the neighbouring state of Penang is a part of Kedah and becoming one of the key people in the "Green Wave".

Early life and education
Muhammad Sanusi was born in Kampung Sungai Pauh, Sik, Kedah, Malaysia and he is the seventh child among 13 siblings from the marriage of Md Nor Taib (born 1942) and Meriam Ahmad (born 1949). He came from a poor family.

Muhammad Sanusi received his primary education at Sekolah Rendah Batu 5, Sik and later his secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa, Sungai Petani, Kedah, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sik, Sik, Kedah and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Derma, Kangar, Perlis. He was sacked from school twice, once from Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa. The second sacking was at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sik, because of his bad behaviour and his parents being unable to settle the payment for his school's annual fee. He tend to get bullied from his schoolmates due to his poor background. He continued his education to Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang after having completed his Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Derma. He received his Bachelor of Political Science in Social Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Gelugor, Penang. During his university years, he underwent the training as navy reserve officer cadet and commissioned in 1997.

Early career
Muhammad Sanusi began his career as an education officer for Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) (1998–2002), executive secretary for Institut Pemikiran dan Kepimpinan Melayu (IMPAK) (2002–2004) and assessment executive for Jurunilai Bersekutu (M) Sdn Bhd (2004–2008). He also served as board member for Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) since 2010 until 2013.

Political career
During his political career, Muhammad Sanusi served as PAS election director, chairman of PASRelief, central director-general of PAS Security (since 2017), PAS divisional commissioner of Sik, Kedah (since 2015), Kedah PAS deputy commissioner (since 2015), Political Secretary to 10th Menteri Besar of Kedah YAB Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Ustaz Haji Azizan Abdul Razak (2008 to 2013). He also served as election director of PN since 2023.

Muhammad Sanusi won the highest number of votes in the Central Working Committee (AJK) members election with 1,098 votes in the PAS party election 2023.

Menteri Besar of Kedah
Muhammad Sanusi served as 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah since 2020. On 17 May 2020, Mukhriz Mahathir resigned as Menteri Besar of Kedah mentioning he couldn't hold on to majority among his state assemblymen and thus relinquished his position. Sanusi sworn-in before the Sultan of Kedah, Sallehuddin on 17 May 2020.

During his tenure as the Menteri Besar of Kedah, he oversees many development and achievement in Kedah, including earned RM68.3 billion in 2021 and RM7.34 billion from investment in 2022; upgraded six Water Treatment Plants (Malay: Loji Rawatan Air or LRA) includes LRA Lubuk Buntar, LRA Bukit Selambau, LRA Sungai Limau, LRA Baling, LRA Jenun Baru and LRA Pelubang; 5,417 land title grants have been given to applicants who have been applying for decades; Kedah Rubber City (KRC) which has been in disrepair for a long time will be developed in the PN era with a total of RM2.2 billion and many more.

Involvement in navy
Muhammad Sanusi became the first politician in Malaysia to receive the military ranks of First Admiral in 2021 from the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM).

Controversies and issues
Muhammad Sanusi courted many controversies during his term as the Menteri Besar of Kedah since 2020 that have made him a polarizing figure in Malaysia. This includes rare-earth metal (REE) deposits, racism incidents, Thaipusam holiday in Kedah, COVID-19 corpse joke, obscene speech in Penang and controversial remarks about the appointment of Menteri Besar of Selangor by Sultan of Selangor.

Personal life
Muhammad Sanusi was married to Jusmalailani Jusoh on 14 February 1999 and they were blessed with 5 kids, namely Nur Fatihah Muhammad Sanusi, Muhammad Umar Zuhdi Muhammad Sanusi, Nur Asma' Muhammad Sanusi, Nur Hana Muhammad Sanusi and Sofea Humaira Muhammad Sanusi. His wife work as a teacher in Batu 8 Secondary School in Sik, Kedah. He currently resides in Seri Mentaloon, Alor Setar, Kedah.

He enjoys playing football, sepak takraw, rugby, cycling, and singing/karoake in the TikTok application.

The song Haruman Terindah sung by Lokman Naufal became synonymous with Muhammad Sanusi in his early life, education and struggle before becoming a politician and Menteri Besar of Kedah. In 2023, he released his own biography book, titled Pegunan Perjalanan Hidup: Dinding Sekeping Adik Seorang, and this book was launched by President of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), Abdul Hadi Awang.

Honours

 * Kedah :
 * MY-KED Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah - Member (AMK).svg Member of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (AMK) (2010)
 * MY-KED Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah - Knight Grand Commander (SPMK).svg Knight Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK) – Dato' Seri (2021)

Book

 * Pegunan Perjalanan Hidup: Dinding Sekeping Adik Seorang (2023)