Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak led cabinet ministers and their deputies in taking their oath of office before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur today.

Najib inked the instruments of office witnessed by Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, which were handed to Chief Secretary to the Government Samsudin Osman who is also secretary to the cabinet.

Following this, a Bernama report said five senior ministers led by Minister of International Trade and Industry Rafidah Aziz were sworn in. The others were Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting, Works Minister S Samy Vellu, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Bernard Giluk Dompok.

The following group was led by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar. The others were Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Human Resources Minister Dr Fong Chan Onn and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri i Abdul Aziz.

The third group led by Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid comprised Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Dr Rais Yatim, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, and Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Dr Jamaludin Jarjis.

This was followed by all the remaining ministers.

Also present at the ceremony were Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who announced his line up on Saturday, and his wife Endon Mahmood.

MCA division disappointed

In another development, the Padang Besar MCA in Perlis is disappointed that state MCA Chief and former deputy home minister Chor Chee Heung was not included in the new cabinet line-up.

The division's chief, Loh Yoon Foo viewed Chor as an experienced deputy minister and should have been re-appointed.

"We will write to MCA headquarters concerning the matter," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Loh hoped that Chor ( photo ) would not be discouraged and would continue to head the state MCA.

He said the Padang Besar MCA committee in a meeting last night decided to express its disappointment over the matter.

Loh said Perlis MCA would also convene a meeting tonight to discuss Chor's position.

"I will head the meeting since Chor is away," he said.