updated version Embattled Rafidah Aziz has retained her post as the international trade and industry minister in a minor cabinet reshuffle announced at 2.45pm by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Abdullah made few changes in his first cabinet reshuffle in two years since sweeping the Barisan Nasional coalition into power in March 2004.

Three ministers lost their job, one resigned, two were promoted, three were moved to other ministries and two made an unexpected comeback to the cabinet.

Those out were Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh, who was higher education minister and Dr Leo Michael Toyad, the former tourism minister.

Mustapa Mohamed, who was minister in the Prime Minister's Department, is now higher education minister.

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who was minister in the Prime Minister's Department in ex-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's cabinet, made a sudden comeback as a full minister when he was tapped as the new tourism minister.

Also out is Adenan Satem, who was natural resources and environment minister. He is replaced by Azmi Khalid, who was moved from the home ministry.

There is speculation that Adenan is one of the front-runners to replace Abdul Taib Mahmud as Sarawak chief minister, who is expected to step down after a record stint as the leader of the state.

Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, who was minister in the Prime Minister's Department, has been tranferred to the home ministry.

Meanwhile, Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir who had announced his resignation as information minister earlier today, was replaced by his deputy, Zainudin Maidin, a key supporter of Mahathir.

Zulhasnan Rafique, who was former deputy federal territory minister, moved up as the federal territory minister.

He replaced his former boss in the ministry, Isa Samad, who had to quit after he was found guilty of vote-buying in the Umno polls last October.

An interesting twist is the return of Effendi Norwawi, who is currently neither a member of parliament or senator. However, it is expected that he would be appointed a senator as there is a vacancy for the Sarawak slot to qualify for a seat in the cabinet.

New faces

Kerk Choo Ting, who was one of the two agriculture and agro-based deputy ministers, was the only deputy minister removed. This was expected after he lost the Gerakan deputy presidency in the party polls last year.

Meanwhile, MCA Youth chief Liow Tiong Lai is one of the three new faces in government - he has been appointed deputy youth and sports minister. This means that MCA has an additional leader in government, a total of four ministers and five deputy ministers.

The other new faces are Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is the foreign affairs ministry parliamentary secretary, and S Vijayaratnam, the new parliamentary secretary for plantation enterprises and commodities.

Chia Kwang Chye, who was former deputy internal security minister, has been switched to deputy information minister.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was deputy tourism minister, is now the other deputy information minister.

Meanwhile, Chia is replaced by former deputy higher education minister Fu Ah Kiow.

Changes among the deputies

Donald Lim is appointed deputy tourism minister, moving from the same position in the information ministry.

Ong Tee Keat is the new deputy higher education minister. He was moved from the youth and sports ministry.

Ng Lip Yong, who was parliamentary secretary plantation enterprises and commodities, has been promoted to the post of deputy international trade and industry deputy minister, replacing fellow Gerakan leader, Mah Siew Keong.

Mah took over as agriculture and agro-based deputy minister, replacing Kerk.

Noh Omar, who has faced public criticism as deputy internal security minister, has been moved to be deputy education minister.

His post in the Internal Security Ministry is taken over by Mohd Johari Baharum, the former parliamentary secretary of the Prime Minister's Department.

Abu Seman Yusop, who was internal security ministry's parliamentary secretary, has been promoted as deputy federal territories minister.

Dr Awang Adek Hussin moved from deputy rural and regional development minister to deputy finance minister.

His post in the rural and regional development ministry is given to Zainal Abidin Osman, former parliamentary secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Apart from Kerk, two other deputy ministers were dropped from the line-up - Mahadzir Mohd Khir, former deputy education minister, and Tengku Putera Tengku Awang, former deputy finance minister.