Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal

Summary

Dr. Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal (Dr. Andi Rizal) is a physician and GAGASAN/GRS politician who won the Tanjung Batu state seat in the 2025 Sabah state election, wresting it from Barisan Nasional in a five-cornered contest with 5,492 votes and a majority of 981. A former Director of Lahad Datu Hospital, he entered politics with a focus on community healthcare access and infrastructure. Since December 2025 he has served as Sabah State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

Biography

Andi Md Shamsureezal bin Mohd Sainal, commonly known as Dr. Andi Rizal, is a Malaysian politician and physician who serves as Member of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Tanjung Batu (N71) since November 2025, representing Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (GAGASAN) under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition [1]. He is also State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Sabah under Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and Minister Jafry Ariffin, a post he has held since December 2025 [1]. Prior to entering politics, he served as Director of Lahad Datu Hospital, Sabah, a background that shaped his campaign focus on community healthcare access [2]. Aged 38 at the time of the November 2025 election, Dr. Andi Rizal stood as a first-time candidate in a five-cornered contest for the Tanjung Batu seat, which falls under the Kalabakan Parliamentary constituency alongside Kukusan, Sebatik and Merotai [2]. He won with 5,492 votes and a majority of 981, wresting the seat from Barisan Nasional and ending what Berita Harian described as decades of BN dominance in the constituency [3]. He was subsequently sworn in as one of 17 assistant ministers in the streamlined Sabah Cabinet announced by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor on 3 December 2025 [4]. In his assistant ministerial role, Dr. Andi Rizal has been active on tourism regulation, including enforcement against unlicensed tourism operators and promotion of Sabah as a destination for international visitors [5].

Known for

Dr. Andi Rizal is notable as a physician-turned-politician who brought a healthcare background directly into his election campaign, proposing a mobile medical team for Tanjung Batu constituents during the 2025 Sabah state election [2]. He is recognised as one of five new GRS faces elected in the 2025 Sabah state election, having wrested Tanjung Batu from BN [6]. Since taking office, he has been publicly active in his role as State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, particularly on issues of illegal tourism operators and Sabah's international tourism promotion [7].

Political positions

Dr. Andi Rizal has consistently emphasised healthcare access as a development priority, stating during the campaign that the community's health agenda is a key priority for Tanjung Batu alongside infrastructure and economic growth, and proposing mobile medical teams including doctors, nurses and physiotherapists to serve residents who cannot easily reach hospitals [8]. As Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, he has taken a firm stance on enforcement against unlicensed tourism operators, including foreign nationals misusing visitor passes to conduct illegal tourism businesses, framing this as necessary to protect licensed local operators and uphold Sabah's reputation as a sustainable destination [7]. He has also supported the establishment of a Semporna Tourism Task Force as an integrated enforcement model to address safety, immigration, social and infrastructure issues in Sabah's key tourism hub, with plans for it to serve as a blueprint for other districts [4].

Before politics

1. Before 2025Served as Director of Lahad Datu Hospital, Sabah, his last public sector role before contesting in the 2025 Sabah state election.⛓

Political career

1. November 2025Nominated as GAGASAN/GRS candidate for the Tanjung Batu (N71) state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election.⛓
2. 29 November 2025Won the Tanjung Batu state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election with 5,492 votes and a majority of 981 in a five-cornered race, defeating BN's Samasuddin Yusop (4,511 votes). Berita Harian reported this as a historic win, ending decades of BN dominance in the constituency.⛓
3. 2 December 2025Sworn in as one of 17 Sabah assistant ministers before Sabah Governor Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu.⛓
4. 3 December 2025Formally assigned to the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry as State Assistant Minister under Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin, as part of Chief Minister Hajiji Noor's streamlined 17-member assistant minister cabinet.⛓
5. 4 December 2025Met Tourism Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin in a courtesy call; both pledged to work as a team to strengthen and expand Sabah's tourism industry.⛓
6. 6 December 2025Welcomed passengers from the first Loong Air international charter flight from Shenzhen, China, to Tawau Airport, marking a tourism milestone for Sabah.⛓
7. 29 April 2026Told the Sabah State Assembly that 47 investigation papers against unlicensed tourism operators were opened in 2025 with compounds totalling RM290,000, and announced firm action against foreign nationals misusing visitor passes to run illegal tourism businesses.⛓

Election history

• 2025Tanjung Batu (N71), SabahWon34.8%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• VerifiedFactsDr. Andi Shamsureezal won Tanjung Batu in the 2025 Sabah state election with 5,492 votes and a majority of 981 in a five-cornered race. He was subsequently sworn in as State Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment in December 2025.⛓
• GovernmentBerita Harian reported that Sabah Tourism Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin and Dr. Andi pledged to work as a team to strengthen and expand the state's tourism industry, with their cooperation described as demonstrating a shared focus on Sabah's development despite their parties having once been political rivals.⛓
• IndustryMalay Mail reported that tour operators noted strong demand for Semporna remains high, with Dr. Andi welcoming the first Loong Air charter from Shenzhen as reflecting growing ties with the China market and the broader push for Visit Malaysia 2026.⛓