Dato' Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor (Jawi: محمد سنوسي بن مد نور; Malay pronunciation: [muhammad sanusi]; born 4 August 1974^[1]) 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.^[3][4] 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,^[5] as well as claiming that the neighbouring state of Penang is a part of Kedah^[6] and becoming one of the key people in the "Green Wave".

Quick Facts 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah, Monarch ...

Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Seri Haji Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor SPMK AMK MLA
محمد سنوسي مد نور‎
Muhammad Sanusi in 2022
14th Menteri Besar of Kedah
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 May 2020
Monarch	Sallehuddin
Preceded by	Mukhriz Mahathir
Constituency	Jeneri
State Leader of the Opposition of Kedah
In office 4 July 2018 – 17 May 2020
Monarch	Sallehuddin
Menteri Besar	Mukhriz Mahathir
Preceded by	Amiruddin Hamzah
Succeeded by	Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi
Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly for Jeneri
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 May 2018
Preceded by	Mahadzir Abdul Hamid (BN–UMNO)
Majority	2,455 (2018) 16,050 (2023)
Personal details
Born	(1974-08-04) 4 August 1974 (age 49)[1] Kampung Sungai Pauh, Sik, Kedah, Malaysia[2]
Citizenship	Malaysian
Political party	Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)
Other political affiliations	Pakatan Rakyat (PR) (2008–2015) Gagasan Sejahtera (GS) (2018–2020) Muafakat Nasional (MN) (2019–2022) Perikatan Nasional (PN) (2020–present)
Spouse	Jusmalailani Jusoh ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	5
Alma mater	University of Science Malaysia (BA)
Occupation	Politician
Military service
Allegiance	Malaysia Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Branch/service	Royal Malaysian Navy Territorial Army Regiment
Years of service	1995–1997[note 1] 2021–present[note 2]
Rank	Sub Lieutenant First Admiral[note 3]
Unit	Reserve Officer Training Unit

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Muhammad Sanusi was born in Kampung Sungai Pauh, Sik, Kedah, Malaysia^[2] and he is the seventh child among 13 siblings from the marriage of Md Nor Taib (born 1942) and Meriam Ahmad (born 1949).^[7] 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.^[7] During his university years, he underwent the training as navy reserve officer cadet and commissioned in 1997.

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.

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 became the first politician in Malaysia to receive the military ranks of First Admiral in 2021 from the Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM).^[9]

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.

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

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

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.^[10][11]

•  Kedah :
  • Member of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (AMK) (2010)^[12]
  • Knight Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah (SPMK) – Dato' Seri (2021)^[13][14]