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LEAD: Malaysian PM makes minor Cabinet reshuffle+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 14_(Kyodo) _ (EDS: UPDATING WITH CABINET RESHUFFLE ANNOUNCEMENT) Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced Tuesday a minor Cabinet reshuffle that saw many old faces, including International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz, retaining key positions. "I still need her experience and ability to lead the ministry," Abdullah told a press conference. "This year the emphasis is on improving foreign investment and we are also involved in free trade talks, so her experience is needed." Rumors were rife that Rafidah would be among several other long-serving ministers to be dropped. Expectations had been high that since Abdullah won a landslide victory in the March 2004 general elections on a reform agenda, he would fulfill his pledge with a clean and more energized Cabinet. The Cabinet he formed immediately after the elections had been a disappointment to most people as he basically inherited the same Cabinet from his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, who stepped down in October 2003. Two years on, the highly anticipated first Cabinet reshuffle proved to be another anti-climax as some ministers of 20 years standing are still around. "It's a great disappointment," parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang told Kyodo News. "There is no significant reshuffle, no infusion of new blood to give it a new sense of direction...People generally would not be convinced that this Cabinet would make Abdullah's reform agenda work," he said. Rafidah, the country's most well-known female politician, has been the trade minister since 1987. There had been loud calls for her to quit recently after she was caught in a scandal over her ministry's car-import policy. It has been revealed that too many import licenses had been issued to her cronies. She has denied any wrong-doing. Abdullah did drop the environment, tourism and higher education ministers, and Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir resigned ahead of the announcement. Three others -- ministers in the Prime Minister's Department Mustapa Mohamad and Mohamad Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid -- were moved to other ministries. Abdullah filled the vacant posts with old faces, transferring or promoting them from other ministries. Key portfolios like finance and internal security remain in Abdullah's hands. There was essentially no introduction of new talent. But Abdullah had many factors to consider when shaping his Cabinet. In Malaysian politics, ministerial posts are normally given to those who hold key party positions. Those who failed to secure their seats in their party like Abdul Kadir and former Higher Education Minister Shafie Salleh, who lost in the ruling United Malays National Organization polls in September 2004, had been widely expected to be dropped. The Cabinet is also divided into a unique power-sharing formula among the 14-party ruling National Front coalition. UMNO, the dominant party in the coalition, has the most ministers. The Malaysian Chinese Association, the second biggest party, gets four ministerial posts. There is also geographical consideration especially in the promotion of politicians from Sabah and Sarawak states in Borneo. Given these factors to consider, Abdullah's hands are actually tied as to how many changes he could make despite the many calls for him to overhaul the Cabinet of 32 ministers. |