PM unveils trimmed-down cabinet

Mar 18, 08 10:46am
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today announced his new cabinet.

During a 20-minute press conference at his office in Putrajaya, Abdullah said he has decided not to appoint any parliamentary secretaries - bringing the number of appointments to 68.

He has also dropped many notable veterans and roped in new faces, who now make up half of the cabinet.

"I hope they can serve the people effectively," he told journalists.

Those axed are veteran leaders Rafidah Aziz, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Azmi Khalid and Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who is known to be close to the prime minister.

PM still finance minister

The premier has dropped his portfolio of internal security and outgoing foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar will run a newly merged Home Affairs and Internal Security Ministry.

However, Abdullah retained his finance portfolio and Nor Mohamed Yakcop will continue to serve as second finance minister.

The number of ministries have also been slashed from 32 to 27.

Abdullah's previous cabinet had a whopping 32 ministers, 39 deputy ministers and 20 parliamentary secretaries, with jobs handed out to many of the 14 race-based parties that make up the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Zaid Ibrahim a new face


Among the interesting new faces are Zaid Ibrahim, who has been appointed minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of legal affairs.

According to Abdullah, Zaid will be put in charge of legal affairs and oversee reforms in the judiciary.

Only 17 of the 32 ministers in the previous cabinet have been retained - with five keeping their old posts while 12 moved to new profolios.

Among them are Dr Rais Yatim, who has been named foreign minister and Ong Tee Keat (transport minister).

Shahrir returns to cabinet, Muhd Taib makes comeback

Making a return to the cabinet is Shahrir Samad who is appointed domestic trade and consumer affairs minister.

Also back from the political wilderness is Muhammad Muhd Taib, who is now rural development minister. Muhd Taib quit as Selangor mentri besar after he was charged for breaching Australian financial regulations in bringing in huge amount of undeclared cash. He was later acquitted.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's son Sulaiman has been appointed deputy tourism minister.

Khairy not in the line-up

Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was not named in the cabinet line up announced by his father-in-law.

Prior to the elections, it was speculated that Khairy - the 32-year-old Oxford graduate - will be given an important post.

However, the March 8 polls reversed his fortunes. Many blamed the young politician for BN's disastrous performance.

Since then, pressure had mounted on the prime minister not to include his son-in-law in the line-up.

Ka Chuan takes over from brother

MCA secretary-general Ong Ka Chuan has been made housing and local government minister replacing his brother and MCA president Ka Ting.

Party vice-president Ong Tee Keat is transport minister replacing deputy president Chan Kong Choy. Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai is health minister and Women's wing chief Dr Ng Yen Yen is women, family and development minister.

MCA was also trounced in the elections. The party only managed to retain 15 out of its 40 parliamentary seats.

MIC loses Works Ministry

MIC failed to retain its control over the works ministry and party's secretary-general Dr S Subramaniam has been appointed human resources minister.

The previous works minister was MIC president S Samy Vellu. The party suffered heavy losses in the March 8 polls, losing six out of nine parliamentary seats and 12 out of 19 state seats.

MIC information chief M Saravanan has been appointed deputy federal territories minister while central working committee (CWC) member S Devamany is deputy natural resources and mining minister.

Rafidah dropped: No explanation

Rafidah, who has held the trade portfolio since 1987, was the highest-profile casualty of the reshuffle.

Abdullah would not comment on the departure of Rafidah - also chief of Umno's influential women's wing - who is to be replaced by outgoing agriculture minister Muhyiddin Yasin.

"I don't discuss why. I think she should make way for someone new," he said.