New beginning, fairness to all races, says Sanusi after securing first electoral mandate as MB

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he will pursue his Greater Kedah vision, an ambitious plan to make the state an economic power beyond agriculture, saying the strong mandate given to his team to continue governing the state will be followed by a "new beginning".

The popular PAS politician also pledged that his administration will be fair to all communities in Kedah, despite only one non-Malay assemblyman being part of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ruling bloc.

"I have no problem serving non-Malays in Kedah. We don't practise discrimination or favouritism," he told a press conference flanked by his wife and parents after attending the swearing-in ceremony in front of the Kedah sultan today.

"Voters in Kedah are not all Malays; 26% or 27% are non-Malays. I don't know who they voted for, but we will be fair to everyone," he added.

The state PN coalition under his leadership took 33 seats in Kedah, just short of three seats for a clean sweep.

This is Sanusi's first electoral mandate after he took over as Kedah menteri besar following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government in 2020.

Since then, the plain-talking Sanusi has emerged as one of the country's most prominent politicians and has often clashed with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over a series of issues, including his plan to see through the Kedah Aerotropolis project to transform the state into a regional logistics hub.

During campaigning, Sanusi became a prime target of PH and Umno leaders, who accused him of power abuse and theft of resources – allegations he has rejected.

At the height of the attacks, he was charged with sedition over a speech in which he mocked the sultan's appointment of Amirudin Shari as the Selangor menteri besar.