Malaysia swears in new ministers as discontent brews - Reuters

By Niluksi Koswanage

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia swore in a new line-up of ministers on Wednesday, but unhappiness over the premier's choices roiled his party's ranks and the opposition said several ruling party MPs were ready to switch sides.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak led the 32 new ministers and their deputies in the colourful swearing-in ceremony at the Malaysian king's imposing domed palace in the capital, state news agency Bernama reported.

Later, the cabinet gathered for its first meeting at 0630 GMT in the administrative capital of Putrajaya.

But discontent is bubbling in Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's ruling party, and its parliamentary deputies are willing to defect to the opposition, in numbers sufficient to trigger a change in government, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said.

"You cannot rule out that possibility," Anwar told Reuters in an interview, when asked if the opposition would have enough defections for a change of government.

But he refused to say how many MPs were willing to switch sides. Asked if it was more than five, he said, "Of course it's more than five," but would not say if the number exceeded ten.

[More at http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-32574820080319]