Newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers of the Malaysian government took their oath of office Friday.

At the ceremony televised live here, ministers and deputy misters in the reshuffled Cabinet received letters of appointment from the Supreme Head of State Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin was the first to be sworn in, followed by Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique, Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamad Effendi Norwawi.

Six deputy ministers also taking oath of office Friday were from the Ministry of Internal Security, Ministry of Federal Territories, Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Ministry of Youth and Sports and Prime Minister's Department.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Tuesday announced the reshuffle of the Cabinet. Although there are several changes in the line-up, most senior ministers have maintained positions in their perspective key ministries.

In the revamped Cabinet, two deputy ministers were promoted to ministerial posts, three ministers changed portfolios, two former ministers were reappointed and four ministers dropped out.

Source: Xinhua