Published April 9, 2009

Najib still finalising his ministerial line-up

Smaller Cabinet, fewer coalition seats likely

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia's new premier Najib Razak is still finalising his new Cabinet and there was no announcement yesterday as expected, reports and officials said.

Mr Najib, who is tipped to unveil a streamlined Cabinet aimed at helping him push through promised reforms, may make the announcement today before travelling to Thailand for a regional summit.

'There is no Cabinet reshuffle announcement today. The earliest will be tomorrow,' a senior government official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The convention is for Mr Najib, who was sworn in last week, to seek the consent of Malaysia's king before announcing the new Cabinet.

The New Straits Times yesterday reported that the premier, who leads the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno), has yet to meet with all its partners in the Barisan Nasional coalition on the formation of his new line-up.

Local media have speculated that Mr Najib is likely to reveal a slimmed-down Cabinet from the current 27 ministries with 32 ministers, and that coalition parties have been told they may get fewer seats.

Insiders said that Mr Najib is likely to retain the finance portfolio - seen as critical during the global economic crisis - and that Umno deputy leader Muhyiddin Yassin is tipped to be deputy prime minister and defence minister.

Mr Najib has unveiled an ambitious agenda to overhaul Umno, which was humbled in elections last year by voters who see it as corrupt and out of touch. -- AFP