175.139.201.209: /* Termination of 4-D lottery license renewal */

2021-12-29T02:14:10Z

Termination of 4-D lottery license renewal

New page

{{short description|Malaysian politician}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Undue weight|date=November 2021}}
{{POV|date=November 2021}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Muhammad_Sanusi_Md_Nor.png
| caption =
| name = Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor
| honorific_prefix = [[Malay titles#Honorary styles|Yang Amat Berhormat]] [[Malay titles#State titles|Dato' Seri]] [[Hajji|Haji]]
| native_name = {{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|محمد سنوسي مد نور}}}}
| native_name_lang = ms
| honorific_suffix = {{small|[[Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah|SPMK AMK]] [[Member of Legislative Assembly|MLA]]}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|8|4|df=yes}}<ref name="sinarharian.com.my">{{Cite web|url=https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/83937/EDISI/Utara/Muhammad-Sanusi-pemimpin-mesra-mudah-didekati|title=Muhammad Sanusi pemimpin mesra, mudah didekati|date=17 May 2020|website=Sinarharian}}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Sik District|Sik]], [[Kedah]], [[Malaysia]]{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}
| citizenship = Malaysian
| office1 = 14th [[Menteri Besar of Kedah]]
| monarch1 = [[Sallehuddin of Kedah|Sallehuddin]]
| term_start1 = 17 May 2020
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = [[Mukhriz Mahathir]]
| successor1 =
| constituency1 = [[Jeneri (state constituency)|Jeneri]]
|office6 = Other roles
|subterm6 = 2018–2020
|suboffice6 = [[Opposition (Malaysia)#State Legislative Assemblies|Opposition Leader]] of the [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]
| office3 = Faction represented in [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]
| subterm3 = 2008–2020
| suboffice3 = [[Malaysian Islamic Party]]
| subterm4 = 2020–
| suboffice4 = [[Perikatan Nasional]]
| party = [[Malaysian Islamic Party]] (PAS)
| otherparty = [[Pakatan Rakyat]] (PR)<br />[[Gagasan Sejahtera]] (GS)<br />[[Muafakat Nasional]] (MN)<br />[[Perikatan Nasional]] (PN)
| alma_mater = [[University of Science Malaysia]]
| occupation = Politician
| profession =
}}

[[Malay titles#State titles|Dato' Seri]] [[Hajji|Haji]] '''Muhammad Sanusi bin Md Nor''' ({{lang-ms|محمد سنوسي بن مد نور|label=[[Jawi alphabet|Jawi]]|script=arab|italic=unset}}; born 4 August 1974<ref name="sinarharian.com.my"/>) is a Malaysian politician who has served as the 14th [[Menteri Besar of Kedah]] since May 2020 and Member of the [[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]] (MLA) for [[Jeneri (state constituency)|Jeneri]] since May 2018 and was the [[Opposition (Malaysia)#State Legislative Assemblies|Leader of the Opposition]] of the state from July 2018 to 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.<ref>{{cite news |date= 16 May 2020|title= Muhammad Sanusi dijangka angkat sumpah MB Kedah esok|url= https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/83820/BERITA/Politik/Muhammad-Sanusi-dijangka-angkat-sumpah-MB-Kedah-esok|access-date= 17 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 16 May 2020|title= Menteri Besar baharu Kedah angkat sumpah esok|url= http://www.astroawani.com/berita-politik/menteri-besar-baharu-kedah-angkat-sumpah-esok-243250|access-date= 17 May 2020}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Muhammad Sanusi was born in [[Sik District|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).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

He received his primary education at Sekolah Rendah Batu 5, Sik and later his secondary education in numerous schools such as Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mohamad Jiwa, [[Sungai Petani]], Sekolah Menengah Sik as well as Sekolah Menengah Derma, [[Kangar]], [[Perlis]] and finally ended his tertiary education in [[Universiti Sains Malaysia]] (USM), [[Gelugor]], [[Penang]].{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

==Political career==
* PAS Election Director
* Chairman of PASRelief
* Central Director-General of PAS Security (2017 to date)
* PAS Divisional Commissioner of Sik, Kedah (2015 to date)
* Kedah PAS Deputy Commissioner (2015 to date)
* Political Secretary to 10th Menteri Besar of Kedah Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Ustaz Hj [[Azizan Abdul Razak]] (2008 to 2013)
* 14th Menteri Besar of Kedah

== Controversies and issues==

=== Rare-earth metal deposits ===
In Early December 2020, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor announced that the Kedah state government had awarded a Kuala Lumpur-based company a permit to prospect and extract RM 43 Trillion worth of rare earth metals. Upon further investigation, it was found that the rare earth element deposits were only worth an estimated RM 62 Billion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 December 2020|title=Kedah to tap RM62 billion rare earth deposits, not RM43 trillion|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/553565|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Johan|first=Syahredzan|date=11 December 2020|title=COMMENT {{!}} Leaders must not indulge in racial insults|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/554809|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref> The [[Democratic Action Party|DAP]] have claimed that Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor is intentionally courting controversies and being provocative to draw attention away from the rare-earth element deposit controversy.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|last=Ong|first=Justin|title=Kedah MB demolishing temples to divert from his claim of 'RM43t' in mineral deposits, says DAP rep {{!}} Malay Mail|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/05/kedah-mb-demolishing-temples-to-divert-from-his-claim-of-rm43-trillion-in-m/1929069|access-date=29 December 2020|website=www.malaymail.com|language=en}}</ref>

=== Racism incidents ===

==== Alcoholism remarks ====
Muhammad Sanusi has been unfairly accused by the media for his alleged derogatory statements against minority communities (Indians), which linked them with [[alcoholism]]. He had said that the opposition were "drunk on the [[Hot toddy|toddy]] of popularity" in his speeches without any reference to any community. Following this the minorities protested and called for him to apologize publicly which have the effect of linking alcoholism with certain community themselves.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tee|first=Kenneth|title=Amanah joins call for Kedah MB to publicly apologise over 'drunk on toddy' comment {{!}} Malay Mail|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/06/amanah-joins-call-for-kedah-mb-to-publicly-apologise-over-drunk-on-toddy-co/1929379|access-date=29 December 2020|website=www.malaymail.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=7 December 2020|title=Kedah MB tells critics to take BM classes after racial slur accusations|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/554226|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref> However, Sanusi avoided apologizing and instead called for a ban on the [[Malaysian Indian Congress]] Party which caused the chairman of MIC, Tan Sri Vigneswaran to comment that "this is what happens when you pick an ignorant man to be [an] MB".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nambiar|first=Predeep|date=3 December 2020|title=This is what happens when you pick an ignorant man to be MB, MIC says after ban remark|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/03/this-is-what-happens-when-you-pick-an-ignorant-man-to-be-mb-mic-says-after-ban-remark/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Choong|first=Jerry|title=Criticised over temple demolition, Kedah MB tells MIC and DAP critics not to be drunk on 'toddy' of popularity {{!}} Malay Mail|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/12/05/criticises-over-temple-demolition-kedah-mb-tells-mic-and-dap-critics-not-to/1928995|access-date=29 December 2020|website=www.malaymail.com|language=en}}</ref>

==== Hindu Temple Demolishing ====
[[File:The Leaders from the Hindu NGO coalitions.jpg|thumb|The press conference organized by the Hindu NGO Coalition requesting the minister to apologize for his statement and stop temple demolition works immediately.]]
Muhammad Sanusi administration enforced the law involving demolition of illegally constructed Hindu temples despite protests from the Indian community. It became a nationwide issue as the administration stance has caused many political leaders, religious leaders and NGO representatives to criticise his actions as insensitive towards Hindus.<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 December 2020|title=Kedah MB broke promise over temple demolition – minister|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/553711|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporters|first=F. M. T.|date=3 December 2020|title=Kedah MB broke his promise on temple demolition, says Saravanan|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/03/kedah-mb-broke-his-promise-on-temple-demolition-says-saravanan/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Surendran|first=N.|date=3 December 2020|title=LETTER {{!}} Kedah MB's defence of temple demolition unacceptable|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/553614|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref> The DAP suggested that the actual aim of the push for the demolition of temples was to distract from the earlier controversy around the rare earth deposits.<ref name="auto"/> Others however supported Sanusi's act on the demolition of the Hindu temples.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Salleh|first=Syahirah|date=24 December 2020|title=Tidak roboh bangunan dibina ikut peraturan|url=https://harakahdaily.net/index.php/2020/12/24/tidak-roboh-bangunan-dibina-ikut-peraturan/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=HarakahDaily|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 December 2020|title=Kedah MB: No guarantee to not demolish illegal buildings|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/556085|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Malaysiakini|language=en}}</ref> The Coalitions of Hindu NGOs has requested him to stop the demolition and apologize else to bring the matter to the attention of the Palace through a reactive press conference.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Reporters|first=F. M. T.|date=21 December 2020|title=Roboh kuil: Sanusi harus pohon maaf dan diambil tindakan oleh Istana, desak NGO|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2020/12/21/roboh-kuil-sanusi-harus-pohon-maaf-dan-diambil-tindakan-oleh-istana-desak-ngo/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaur|first=Minderjeet|date=21 December 2020|title=Apologise for unethical remarks, demolishing temple, Hindus tell Kedah MB|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/12/21/apologise-for-unethical-remarks-demolishing-temple-hindus-tell-kedah-mb/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en-GB}}</ref> Through the press conference, the coalition representatives requested Sanusi to guarantee that the demolitions will stop immediately, however Sanusi responded that everything was happening under the purview of law.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Topics|first=Head|title=NGO desak MB Kedah beri jaminan tiada lagi kuil akan diroboh {{!}} The Malaysian Insight|url=https://headtopics.com/my/ngo-desak-mb-kedah-beri-jaminan-tiada-lagi-kuil-akan-diroboh-the-malaysian-insight-17586516|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Head Topics|language=en}}</ref> Participants of the press conference urged the government to be more proactive and remain sensitive and prepare an ecosystem to secure to the rights of the Hindu community in Malaysia. It was noted that UMHV is also prepared to work hands-on with the government to find a permanent solution for the issues faced by the Hindu temples and communities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=21 December 2020|title=NGOs condemn temple demolition, demands apology from Kedah MB|url=https://thehindupress.com/hindu-ngos-against-temple-demolishing/|access-date=29 December 2020|website=Multilingual e-Newspaper {{!}} The Hindu Press|language=en-US}}</ref>

===Football racism remarks===
During a press conference of Malaysian football club Kedah FA, Muhammad Sanusi acting as the president of the club made racial remarks of its foreign players, by referring to them as 'Awang Hitam' which translates as 'black man' (the word ''Awang'' means a man in [[Malay language|Malay]]). In addition, it was also considered one of the derogatory terms used by certain dailies to identify African men.<ref>{{cite news|title=By calling footballers 'awang hitam', was Kedah MB ignorant or insensitive?|url=https://twentytwo13.my/sports/by-calling-footballers-awang-hitam-was-kedah-mb-ignorant-or-insensitive/|accessdate=22 January 2021|website=TwentyTwo13}}</ref>

===Thaipusam holiday===
On 21 January 2021, Sanusi said the [[Thaipusam]] festival would not be marked as a [[Public holidays in Malaysia|public holiday]] since there is no celebration of the annual festival for the year given the spike in [[COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia|Covid-19]] cases, and all public gatherings will be barred. He said the state would allow state assemblyman service centres to operate via drive-through services for the people in their respective constituencies. However, only one-third of devotees will be allowed to pray at [[Hindu temple|temples]] during the festival.<ref>{{Cite web|title=No Thaipusam public holiday for Kedah this year, says MB {{!}} The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/21/no-thaipusam-public-holiday-for-kedah-this-year-says-mb|access-date=30 January 2021|website=www.thestar.com.my}}</ref>

The [[Malaysian Chinese Association|MCA]] has also described Sanusi's decision as illogical and disrespectful of the country's minorities' rights. The [[Malaysian Indian Congress|MIC]] deputy president Datuk Seri [[Saravanan Murugan|M. Saravanan]] said the decision sends a negative signal about [[Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]] to all minorities in the country. "He has planted the seed of fear in the minds of all minorities," said Vell Paari. The former MIC secretary-general said PAS central leadership tried its best to portray the party as being inclusive. He also criticised PAS for saying that MIC did not support PAS during the [[2018 Malaysian general election|14th General Election]] (GE14) in 2018. He reminded Sanusi that during GE14, PAS was not a component of the [[Barisan Nasional]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sanusi's decision sending chills to all minorities, says MIC {{!}} The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/27/sanusis-decision-sending-chills-to-all-minorities-says-mic|access-date=30 January 2021|website=www.thestar.com.my}}</ref>

===Arrests of critics and COVID19 Corpse Joke===
In August 2021, four people were arrested for allegedly insulting Sanusi over his "joke" on the freezer containers to hold corpses of COVID-19 victims. The first arrest was made on a 61-year old senior citizen who was detained at his house at 3:57am in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan and taken to Sungai Petani, Kedah which is more than 400 kilometer away from the suspect's house, after a police report lodged by Sanusi’s special officer, Azizan Hamzah.<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=61-year-old arrested for taunting Sanusi over freezer container 'joke'|url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/37717/61-year-old-arrested-for-taunting-sanusi-over-freezer-container-joke|access-date=13 August 2021|website=TheVibes|language=en}}</ref> Two more people were arrested in Mergong Perdana and Kepala Batas after a police report was lodged over the offensive comments made by the two persons on Facebook.<ref>{{Cite web|date=10 August 2021|title=2 more arrested for insulting Kedah MB|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/08/10/2-more-arrested-for-insulting-kedah-mb/|access-date=13 August 2021|website=FreeMalaysiaToday|language=en}}</ref> An IT analyst from Taiping was the fourth person to be arrested, which prompted the suspect's pregnant wife to comment "I feel that you don’t need to be a MB if you cannot take criticism. Better to just sit down and look through FB comments all day,”.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 August 2021|title=Pregnant wife upset over hubby's 3-day remand for scolding Kedah MB|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/08/11/pregnant-wife-upset-over-hubbys-3-day-remand-for-scolding-kedah-mb/|access-date=13 August 2021|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en}}</ref> The series of arrests and questioning of citizens for their criticisms of a publicly elected official drew sharp rebukes and criticism from the Malaysian public, Centre for Independent Journalism, opposition politicians and a Federal Minister from the ruling government.<ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2021|title='Politicians shouldn't go after critics' – minister says amid Kedah MB's offensive|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/586850|access-date=13 August 2021|website=MalaysiaKini|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 August 2021|title=CIJ raises alarm over arrests of citizens for criticising Kedah MB|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/08/717143/cij-raises-alarm-over-arrests-citizens-criticising-kedah-mb|access-date=13 August 2021|website=New Straits Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 August 2021|title=Why so quick to nab senior citizen who criticised Kedah MB? – Ramasamy|url=https://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/why-quick-nab-senior-citizen-024300904.html|access-date=13 August 2021|website=Yahoo|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=12 August 2021|title=Arrested for insulting Sanusi? You must be joking|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2021/08/12/arrested-for-insulting-sanusi-you-must-be-joking/|access-date=13 August 2021|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 August 2021|title=Stop trampling on people's freedom to criticise politicians, Kedah MB told|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/586693|access-date=13 August 2021|website=Malaysia Kini|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 August 2021|title=Arresting Kedah MB's critics uncalled for, say lawyers|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/08/10/arresting-kedah-mbs-critics-uncalled-for-say-lawyers/|website=Free Malaysia Today|language=en}}</ref>

===Termination of 4-D lottery license renewal ===
In November 2021, Sanusi had spark another controversy by announcing a stop renewing licenses of all of the 4D in Kedah during a press conference. Sanusi states "This move is to ensure that Kedah will be free from gambling." and he also mocked [[Penang]] state by stating "Those who want to buy (4-D lottery numbers) can go to Penang".<ref>{{Cite web|date= 14 November 2021| url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/11/14/4d-lottery-shops-banned-in-kedah-mb-tells-buyers-039to-go-to-penang039|title = 4D lottery shops banned in Kedah, MB tells buyers 'to go to Penang' |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date= 16 November 2021| url =https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/11/16/even-china-has-banned-gambling-says-pas-backbencher/|website=Free Malaysia Today| language=en}}</ref>.However,everybody knew that gambling is totally wrong in every religion.

== Election results ==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em ; font-size:95%"
|+ '''[[Kedah State Legislative Assembly]]'''<ref name="GE14 results">{{cite web|url=https://keputusan.spr.gov.my/|title=SEMAKAN KEPUTUSAN PILIHAN RAYA UMUM KE – 14|publisher=[[Election Commission of Malaysia]] |language=ms|accessdate=17 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref><ref name="The Star GE14">{{cite news|url=https://election.thestar.com.my/|title=The Star Online GE14|newspaper=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|accessdate=24 May 2018}} Percentage figures based on total turnout.</ref>
!|Year
!|Constituency
!colspan=2|
!|Votes
!|Pct
!colspan=2|Opponent(s)
!|Votes
!|Pct
!|Ballots cast
!|Majority
!|Turnout
|-
|2008
|N23 [[Belantek (state constituency)|Belantek]], P013 Sik
|{{Party shading/PAS}} |
|Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor ([[Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party|PAS]])
|align="right" |7,974
|49.20%
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
|{{nowrap|'''Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah'''}} ([[United Malays National Organisation|'''UMNO''']])
|align="right" |'''8,226'''
|'''50.70%'''
|16,475
|252
|86.60%
|-
|rowspan=2|2018
|rowspan=2|N24 [[Jeneri (state constituency)|Jeneri]], P013 Sik
|rowspan=2 {{Party shading/PAS}} |
|rowspan=2|'''Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor''' ([[Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party|'''PAS''']])
|rowspan=2 align="right" |'''10,626'''
|rowspan=2|'''46.32%'''
|{{Party shading/Barisan Nasional}} |
| Mahadzir Abdul Hamid ([[United Malays National Organisation|UMNO]])
|align="right" |8,171
|35.61%
|rowspan=2|27,641
|rowspan=2|2,455
|rowspan=2|84.70%
|-
|{{Party shading/Keadilan}} |
|Mohd Nazri Abu Hassan ([[Malaysian United Indigenous Party|PPBM]])
|align="right" |4,146
|align="right" |18.07%
|}

== Honours ==

* {{Flag|Kedah}} :
** [[File:MY-KED_Exalted_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Kedah_-_Knight_Grand_Commander_(SPMK).svg|50x50px]] Knight Grand Commander of the [[Exalted Order of the Crown of Kedah]] (SPMK) – '''Dato' Seri''' (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|date=1 November 2021|title=Kedah MB is now 'Datuk Seri'|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2021/11/741687/kedah-mb-now-datuk-seri|url-status=live|access-date=1 November 2021|website=New Straits Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 November 2021|title=MB Sanusi heads awards list on Kedah Sultan's birthday|url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2021/11/01/kedah-mb-sanusi-heads-awards-list/2017528|url-status=live|access-date=1 November 2021|website=Malay Mail}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* [https://www.facebook.com/PAS4N24Jeneri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor] on Facebook
* [https://twitter.com/SanusiNor Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor] on Twitter

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mukhriz Mahathir]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Menteri Besar of the State of Kedah|Chief Minister of Kedah]]|years=2020–present}}
{{s-aft|after=N/A}}
{{s-end}}

{{Menteris Besar and Chief Ministers}}

[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent]]
[[Category:Anti-Hindu sentiment]]
[[Category:Malaysian Islamic Party politicians]]

Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor - Revision history

AryaInIND: updated details

175.139.201.209: /* Termination of 4-D lottery license renewal */