Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has defended his decision to retain embattled minister Rafidah Aziz in the cabinet, although political pundits had anticipated her exit.

"I still need her experience and capability in the international trade and industry ministry," the premier told the 15-minute press conference at his office in Putrajaya this afternoon.

"The problem (in relation to Rafidah) was only in relation to the Approved Permit (AP) issue, but the AP issue is not the only thing in the ministry," he said.

Rafidah , one of the most senior ministers, had come under heavy fire at the height of the scandal last year, resulting in numerous calls for her to relinquish the post over her handling of the matter.

Abdullah noted that a special committee, headed by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak, has since been set up to look into the matter and will deal with the AP issue accordingly.

His response was prompted by a question as to why he had decided to retain several senior ministers in the cabinet.

Abdullah asked the journalist to name the ministers concerned and, based on the answer, jokingly dubbed Rafidah as a "popular" minister.

Portfolios retained

On his decision to drop Dr Shafie Salleh as the higher education minister, he replied: "I think his post should be held by another person."

Shafie, who was deputy finance minister prior to being made minister, had failed to win a seat in the Umno's supreme council during the party's election in 2004.

The premier also said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Adenan Satem was dropped due to the re-appointment of ex-minister Mohd Effendi Norwawi to the PM's Department.

Both Adenan and Mohd Effendi are leaders of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu in Sarawak. Abdullah said Adenan was expected to play a more active role in the Sarawak administration.

However, he did not explain why Tourism Minister Dr Leo Michael Toyad, who is from the same party, was dropped from the new line-up.

Abdullah was also asked to comment on earlier speculation that he would give up his two other portfolios to focus on his duties as prime minister. He is also the minister of internal security and finance respectively.

"I do whatever I need to do without shirking my responsibility," he answered briefly.

Focus on Ninth Plan

To another question on the absence of change in posts held by MIC leaders, the premier said he would wait and see whether a change is necessary after the upcoming party election.

Asked to describe the strength of his new cabinet, Abdullah said he hopes the post assigned to each minister would help enhance their performance.

He is also looking to the new line-up to assist him in the implementation of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, to be tabled in Parliament next month.

Abdullah, clad in a black suit, was accompanied by Najib. He took only took eight questions during the press conference.

However, the long-awaited announcement came as an anti-climax, with journalists seemingly reluctant to pose questions. Several foreign journalists claimed this was due to the lack of any real surprise in the line-up.

Malaysiakini journalists were initially denied entry at the security check-point, without a reason being provided. However, the reporters were admitted after negotiating with ministry officials.