KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Women's organisations are unhappy that fewer women members are in the new cabinet.

Women's Aid Organisation president Meera Samanther said it was a step backwards for women to have less representation in the cabinet.

National Council of Women's Organisations deputy president Datuk G. Ramani agreed.

"We are somewhat disappointed with the lack of women in the cabinet but we hope that it will still be a progressive one with all the new faces."

"We are disappointed that former women, family and community development minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil can't continue, but we will carry on assisting Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen in her new portfolio," Ramani said.

Dr Ng is the new minister, while Shahrizat has been made special adviser on women's affairs and community development to the prime minister.

WAO's Samanther agreed that it was a pity that Shahrizat lost in the elections.

"Her successor must now finish what Shahrizat started for gender sensitisation programmes for all government servants," said Samanther.