KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysia's Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday unveiled a new slimline cabinet, dropping veteran politicians and appointing fresh faces after unprecedented election losses.
Abdullah was under pressure to rejuvenate his administration after March 8 polls that saw the Barisan Nasional coalition lose its two-thirds majority for the first time in four decades, triggering calls for his resignation.
Trade minister Rafidah Aziz, who had held the post since 1987, was the biggest casualty of the reshuffle, which also saw some government critics given influential roles.
"More than half of the cabinet ministers are new faces and I hope they can serve the people more effectively and bring a fresh approach to the country's administration," Abdullah told a press conference.
The premier would not comment on the departure of Rafidah, 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.
The premier relinquished his portfolio of internal security, and outgoing foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar will run a newly merged home affairs and internal security ministry.
Former arts, culture and heritage minister Rais Yatim will take over at the foreign ministry.
Abdullah, who won the backing of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) last week, reiterated his insistence on staying in power, saying he had been given "a very strong mandate."
"I am not going to shirk my responsibilities," he said, adding that in his new term he would focus on implementing the many projects launched during the outgoing administration.
Abdullah cut down the size of the cabinet, which had been criticised as unwieldy and wasteful, from 90 to 68 positions by dropping the roll call of parliamentary secretaries.
Political observers commended the reshuffle, and particularly the decision to bring in dissenting voices including Zaid Ibrahim, who has been a leading critic on social and human rights issues.
Zaid was refused permission to contest the March 8 polls but will now be appointed to the upper house and given the important role of de facto minister in charge of law, with the task of reforming the judiciary.
Another UMNO maverick, Shahrir Abdul Samad, who was dropped as chairman of the coalition backbenchers' club for voting against the government, has been given the sensitive domestic trade and consumer affairs portfolio.
From the private sector, leading banker Amirsham Aziz has been appointed a minister in the prime minister's department, and will head the government's Economic Planning Unit.
"It shows a refreshing change of face, it shows that the PM at least would like to give the impression that he is changing some of the old guard," said Tricia Yeoh from the Centre for Public Policy Studies think-tank.
"Rafidah is the epitome of the old guard within UMNO," she said, pointing to graft allegations that have surrounded the veteran politician.
However, Yeoh said the reshuffle may not defuse the pressure on Abdullah, who faces a resurgent opposition and a looming battle for his political life at ruling party elections later this year.
Lim Kit Siang from the opposition alliance which humbled the coalition at the recent polls, said Abdullah, who came to power in late 2003, had ignored the public for too long.
"He is beginning to listen to the people's wishes, although four years and two months late," he said.
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