Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor

Summary

Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (born 4 August 1974) is a PAS politician who has served as the 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah since May 2020 and as Jeneri state assemblyman since 2018; he was re-sworn for a second term in August 2023 after Perikatan Nasional's landslide win in the Kedah state elections. His tenure has been defined by an assertive approach to state resource rights — particularly the Kedah-Penang water dispute and the push to develop rare earth element mining — alongside a values-based social policy including a halt on gambling licences. Both sedition charges he faced over remarks made in July 2023 were fully resolved with acquittals by February 2025.

Biography

Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor (born 4 August 1974) is a Malaysian politician serving as the 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah since May 2020 and Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Jeneri since May 2018 [1]. He was born in Kampung Sungai Pauh, Sik, Kedah, the seventh of 13 siblings from a family of modest means [1]. He received his secondary education at several schools in Kedah and Perlis before completing his STPM at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Derma, Kangar, and subsequently graduated with a Bachelor of Political Science in Social Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang [1]. Before entering politics, Sanusi worked as an education officer at the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) (1998–2002), executive secretary at Institut Pemikiran dan Kepimpinan Melayu (IMPAK) (2002–2004), and assessment executive at Jurunilai Bersekutu (M) Sdn Bhd (2004–2008) [1]. He served as Political Secretary to the then-Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak from 2008 to 2013 [2]. He first contested an election at the 2008 general election in the Belantek state seat, losing to the BN candidate with a majority of 252 votes [3]. In GE14 (2018), he won the Jeneri seat and served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kedah State Assembly from July 2018 until May 2020 [1]. Following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state government, Sanusi was sworn in as Menteri Besar on 17 May 2020 [4]. He was re-sworn on 14 August 2023 after Perikatan Nasional won 33 of 36 Kedah state assembly seats [2]. He also serves as PAS Election Director (national) and Perikatan Nasional Election Director since 2023 [1]. In 2021, he became the first politician in Malaysia to receive the military rank of First Admiral from the Royal Malaysian Navy [1].

Known for

Sanusi is known as the driving force behind Kedah's Perikatan Nasional state government and as a prominent figure in Malaysia's 'Green Wave' phenomenon [1]. He has drawn sustained national attention for his assertive stance on state sovereignty issues, particularly Kedah's demand for raw water payment from Penang, his administration's push into rare earth element (REE) mining as a new state revenue source, and his 2021 policy to halt the renewal of gambling outlet licences in Kedah [5]. Within PAS, he garnered the highest number of votes in the 2023 PAS Central Working Committee election with 1,098 votes [1].

Political positions

On natural resources and state sovereignty, Sanusi has consistently demanded that Penang pay Kedah for raw water drawn from Sungai Muda, arguing that Kedah bears the cost of conserving the Ulu Muda water catchment area while receiving no compensation [6]. He has opposed the establishment of a regional water authority, describing it as an infringement on Kedah's rights over land and forests [6]. On economic development, Sanusi has positioned rare earth element (REE) mining as a key future revenue stream for Kedah, setting a 15 per cent royalty rate from REE mining starting 2024, and arguing that PN-governed states stand to gain significantly from the sector [7]. On religious and social policy, his administration enacted a halt on the renewal of number-betting (4D) outlet licences in 2021, framing the decision as a religious obligation; courts subsequently ruled the state directive was ultra vires federal powers [4]. He has stated that his administration governs on behalf of all 2.2 million Kedahans regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation [8]. On education funding, the Kedah state budget under his administration has continued to allocate RM300,000 to Chinese and Tamil primary schools [4].

Education

1. 1981–1993Received primary education at Sekolah Rendah Batu 5, Sik, and secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa (Sungai Petani), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Sik, and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Derma (Kangar, Perlis), where he completed his STPM.⛓
2. Late 1990sGraduated with a Bachelor of Political Science in Social Science from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. During his university years, he underwent training as a navy reserve officer cadet and was commissioned in 1997.⛓

Before politics

1. 1998–2002Served as an education officer at the Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP).⛓
2. 2002–2004Served as executive secretary at Institut Pemikiran dan Kepimpinan Melayu (IMPAK).⛓
3. 2004–2008Worked as an assessment executive at Jurunilai Bersekutu (M) Sdn Bhd.⛓

Political career

1. 2008–2013Served as Political Secretary to Kedah Menteri Besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak.⛓
2. March 2008Contested the Belantek state seat in GE12 under PAS, losing to BN candidate Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah by a majority of 252 votes.⛓
3. May 2018Won the Jeneri state seat in GE14, defeating BN and PKR candidates with a majority of 2,455 votes.⛓
4. July 2018–May 2020Served as Leader of the Opposition in the Kedah State Legislative Assembly.⛓
5. 17 May 2020Sworn in as the 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah before Sultan Sallehuddin Sultan Badlishah, following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan state government.⛓
6. August 2023Retained the Jeneri state seat in the Kedah state election with a majority of 16,050 votes, defeating BN candidate Datuk Muhamad Khizri Abu Kassim.⛓
7. 14 August 2023Re-sworn as Menteri Besar of Kedah for a second term after Perikatan Nasional won 33 of 36 state assembly seats.⛓

Election history

• 2023Jeneri (Kedah State)Won79.1%⛓
• 2018Jeneri (Kedah State)Won⛓
• 2008Belantek (Kedah State)Lost⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSanusi has stated his administration governs for all 2.2 million Kedahans regardless of race, religion, or party affiliation, and has continued allocating RM300,000 to Chinese and Tamil primary schools in the state budget.⛓
• OppositionMalaysiakini reported that a Kedah assemblyman-authored piece described Sanusi's stance on the Kedah-Penang water dispute as "irrational," arguing that Sanusi fails to understand Penang's riparian rights and that reasonable inter-state dialogue is near impossible.⛓
• ExpertAcademic Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi, quoted by Malaysiakini, characterised Sanusi's apology to the Sultan of Selangor as "a desperate attempt to save his political career after being charged with sedition," and stated there was nothing to glorify about it.⛓
• VerifiedFactsThe Court of Appeal ruled in December 2025 (upheld from a 2024 High Court ruling) that Kedah's blanket ban on gambling outlet licences was ultra vires state powers and inconsistent with the Federal Constitution, as pool betting and lotteries fall under federal legislative competence.⛓

Notable legal history

Sanusi faced two sedition charges under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, arising from remarks he made during a political speech in Gombak, Selangor, on 11 July 2023 — one relating to the Sultan of Selangor and one relating to the then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Source: bernama.com; thestar.com.my). On 10 December 2024, the Shah Alam High Court acquitted and discharged Sanusi of the sedition charge relating to the Sultan of Selangor, after the prosecution withdrew the charge following the Sultan's acceptance of Sanusi's apology (Source: bernama.com; malaymail.com). On 24 February 2025, the Shah Alam High Court also acquitted and discharged Sanusi of the second sedition charge relating to the then-Yang di-Pertuan Agong, after the Attorney-General's Chambers accepted his representation and did not pursue the case (Source: thestar.com.my; sinardaily.my; malaymail.com). Sanusi is now cleared of all sedition charges stemming from the July 2023 speech (Source: malaymail.com).