Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today that the results of party elections would not determine his cabinet line-up.

"I do not use party elections or other elections as a formula (for choosing cabinet ministers). I stress experience as an important fact because cabinet members need to begin working after the Ninth Malaysia Plan is passed by Parliament," the prime minister was quoted by Bernama as saying this morning.

"They have to move fast, there is no time to learn," he added.

Abdullah announced a cabinet reshuffle yesterday that included dropping Higher Education Minister Dr Shafie Mohd Salleh who lost in the contest for a seat in the Umno supreme council last year while Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who also lost in the party election, resigned.

However, Home Affairs Minister Azmi Khalid, who also failed to win a seat in the Umno supreme council, was retained but given the Natural Resources and Environment portfolio.

No pressure

Abdullah said the cabinet reshuffle was not made because of pressures from anyone or as preparation for the coming Sarawak elections.

Asked about the weekly cabinet meeting today, he said it would be held as usual involving the ministers who were retained and those given new portfolios.

As for the newly appointed ministers, Abdullah said he would wait for a suitable date for the swearing-in ceremony at Istana Negara before they could carry out their new duties.

In the case of Effendi Norwawi, who was named Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, he would have to be sworn in as a senator first before he could start to function as a cabinet member.