Umno’s quota remained largely intact in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s minor cabinet reshuffle today.

The changes were made largely to reflect new realities in MCA’s party leadership and pave way for the MIC succession plan.

However, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is still out in the cold.

The most affected party in this reshuffle is MCA, and as expected, sex scandal-tainted MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek was not included into cabinet.

Instead, his son Chua Tee Yong, a political greenhorn, was appointed as a deputy minister, in a move bound to bring about charges of nepotism from within the party.

The younger Chua, apart of being the Labis parliamentary - a seat once held by his father - is not considered a senior party member. Without any elected party post, Tee Yong was appointed by the senior Chua to sit in both the central committee as well as the presidential council.

Chua's staunch ally Kong Cho Ha has been promoted as transport minister, replacing the Ong Tee Keat, who is popular with the Chinese grassroots for his walk-the-talk demeanor.

The move paves the way for a promotion for Deputy Finance Minister Chor Chee Heung, who will take up Kong’s old office as housing and local government minister.

A significant development however involved MCA’s highest vote-getter in the central committee, Lee Chee Leong - he was transferred to be deputy home minister, a post which the party has coveted for several years.

With Lee’s move to the powerful Home Ministry, it will allow the party a clear shot at tightening its reins on the Chinese media.

Recognition for Samy’s replacement

On the MIC front, G Palanivel’s debut on Najib’s administration indicates a growing acceptance of party president S Samy Vellu’s anointed successor.

To a lesser extent, it is also seen as a fulfilment of the rumoured promise of a senior government position in lieu of being selected to stand for the recent Hulu Selangor by-election.

Interestingly, Palanivel has a relatively junior ministerial post despite being the party's No 2, while MIC vice-president Dr S Subramaniam is secured in his human resources minister's seat.

The appointment of PPP senior vice-president Maglin Dennis D’Cruz as a deputy minister meanwhile is seen as a gift to appease their displeasure at the continued presence of former PPP leader T Murugiah in Najib’s administration.

Maglin, who will be appointed as senator tomorrow, will finally break PPP’s absence in government.

It remains to be seen how far it will soothe frayed nerves in the party after their much-publicised split with Murugiah in the middle of last year.