(dpa) - Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday announced a new cabinet lineup following his ruling coalition's bruising setbacks in the recent general elections.
Abdullah, whose party managed to win a slim majority of parliamentary seats to retain power in government, trimmed his cabinet from 32 to 27 portfolios.
Abdullah also cut the number of cabinet members to 68, from the previous 90. More than half of the new lineup featured new faces.
On March 8, Abdullah's ruling National Front coalition suffered when the opposition managed to win the majority in five states.
The ruling coalition was left with only 140 lawmakers in the 222-member parliament, leaving Abdullah a smaller pool to appoint ministers.