After a 90-minute delay, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi revealed an extended cabinet comprising a relatively younger line-up which included 14 new ministers and a returning former member.

Despite the major revamp, there were no real surprises.

Describing his new team as the "cabinet of the future", Abdullah said the changes in the administration were part of the promises made by the Barisan Nasional in its election manifesto.

"This is a major reshuffle in the government aimed at serving the rakyat (people) better," he told a conference room packed with local and foreign journalists in Putrajaya.

On whether his choices reflected a clean line-up, Abdullah said it did. But he also noted that the cabinet appointment did not mean that members have immunity against prosecution.

"If anyone is found to be guilty (upon completion of any Anti-Corruption Agency investigation) later on, they will have to go."

He also urged the ACA to expedite ongoing investigations and complete their concluding reports without delay.

Retained ministers

In the new cabinet , Abdullah remains a minister for the Home Affairs and Finance ministries.

The Home Affairs' twin ministry of Internal Security is headed by Azmi Khalid.

Retained in their old posts are senior ministers S Samy Vellu (Works) and Rafidah Aziz (International Trade and Industry), Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak (Defence), MCA chief Ong Ka Ting (Housing and Local Government), Nor Mohamed Yakcop (Finance II) and Dr Fong Chan Onn (Human Resources).

Another senior minister and Gerakan president, Dr Lim Keng Yaik, is now Energy, Water and Communications minister. Previously, he held the Primary Industries portfolio, which is now renamed to Plantation Enterprises and Commodities ministry. Peter Chin is the minister.

Bernard Dompok and M Kayveas have also been retained as minister and deputy minister respectively in the Prime Minister's Department.

The new ministers in the department are Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Dr Maximus Ongkili, Mustapa Mohamad, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz and Dr Abdullah Mat Zin while Joseph Entulu Belaun is the new deputy.

Mustapa, who played a vital role in ensuring a massive Barisan Nasional victory in Kelantan in the polls last week, has been a cabinet member previously, holding the second finance minister and entrepreneur development portfolios at different times.

Among the new faces as ministers are former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Mohd Isa Abdul Samad who minister of the newly-formed Federal Territories Ministry.

Adenan Satem heads the new Natural Resources and Environment portfolio, replacing Mohd Effendi Norwawi who stayed away from the recently-concluded election.

Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said is now Youth and Sports minister, replacing her counterpart in Umno Youth, Hishammuddin Hussein. Hishammuddin is the new Education minister.

Lateral movements include Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir taking up the Information Ministry portfolio and Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin as the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry minister.

The two deputies for the Information ministry is Zainuddin Maidin and Donald Lim.

Combined portfolio

The combined portfolio of Women, Family and Community Development will be held by Umno Wanita deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, assisted by her deputy, MIC vice-president G Palanivel.

The new entity is resultant from a merger between Women and Family Development, and National Unity and Community Development ministries.

The deputy ministers retained include MCA Wanita chief Ng Yen Yen in the finance ministry, Shariff Omar (Agriculture and Agro-based Industries) and Ong Tee Keat (Youth and Sports).

Among the newcomers for the deputy posts are Chia Kwang Chye (Internal Security), Tengku Putra Tengku Awang, Khamsiyah Yeop and Noh Omar (both former parliamentary secretaries in the PM's Dept), Mah Siew Keong and Husni Hanadzlah (both in MITI) and Mohd Zin Mohamad (Works).

Some of the lateral movements for deputy ministers are Zainal Abidin Zin (Defence), Tan Chai Ho (Home Affairs) and Kerk Choo Ting (Agriculture and Agro-based Industries).

Meanwhile, the Land and Cooperative Development and the Special Functions portfolios have been scrapped while two others have been merged into what will be known as the Women, Family and Community Development ministry.

In retirement

Four former cabinet members have also retired.

They are Leo Moggie, the former the energy, communications and multimedia minister, Mohd Effendi Norwawi (Agriculture), Khalil Yaakob (Information), Kasitah Gaddam (Land and Cooperative Development).

Moggie, 62, quit his presidency in Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak last year, after serving for 25 years in the cabinet of three prime ministers, including the entire 22-year tenure of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Former Education minister Musa Mohamad resigned from his post last week.

The ministers are expected to be sworn in Tuesday, a day before the weekly cabinet meeting.