Zaid Ibrahim, Shahrir IN; Rafidah, Tengku Adnan OUT

Zaid Ibrahim, Shahrir IN; Rafidah, Tengku Adnan OUT
Anil Netto - 18 March 2008

PM Abdullah Badawi has just announced a “reformist” cabinet of sorts which includes Zaid Ibrahim as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department serving as de facto law minister. Zaid is likely to be made a senator first before he can take up his new appointment.

Shahrir Samad makes a surprise entry as Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister.

Abdullah remains as Finance Minister but the “world’s longest-serving trade minister”, Rafidah, has been dropped, in a major shock. She is replaced by Muhyiddin.

Other big names dropped are Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Jamaluddin Jarjis, Tengku Adnan, and Azmi Khalid.

It is likely that the major setbacks suffered by the BN in the 8 March general election played a key role in their being dropped.

Umno ministers take over at the Works Ministry and the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry, which are responsible for overseeing the award of huge infrastructure contracts.

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