Muhammad Sanusi was born in Kampung Sungai Pauh,
Sik,
Kedah,
Malaysia and he is the seventh child among 13 siblings from the marriage of Md Nor Taib (born 1942) and Meriam Ahmad (1949–15 August 2024). 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 expelled from school twice, once from SMS Sultan Mohamad Jiwa and also 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 and was easily bullied by fellow schoolmates due to his poor socio-economic 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. During his university years, he underwent the training as
navy reserve officer cadet and was commissioned in 1997. ==Early career==