The Chinese in Sarawak have been "cheated" since Chief Minister Adenan Satem did not appoint a Chinese as deputy chief minister in his new cabinet, says Sarawak DAP chief Chong Chieng Jen.

"I think the whole thing is the Chinese community, especially the Batu Kawah voters have been cheated. Less than a week, and well, the betrayal of the Batu Kawah voters by Adenan," Chong told Malaysiakini.

The Borneo Post reported that Adenan, when campaigning in Batu Kawah during the Sarawak election, offered the carrot of a Chinese deputy chief minister to the Chinese electorate if they voted for SUPP.

However, after the elections, the English daily quoted Adenan as saying that while he is happy that Chinese voters had swung back to BN, it would be up to him whether or not to appoint a Chinese deputy chief minister.

Adenan has also denied making the promise.

Asked to comment on the cabinet lineup, Chong said that nothing much had changed from the days when Sarawak Governor Abdul Taib Mahmud helmed the administration.

"Nothing much has changed, except for one or two new faces," he said.

The new lineup, announced after a swearing-in ceremony in Kuching today, saw Adenan appointing three deputy chief ministers - federal minister Douglas Unggah, PRS president James Masing and PBB deputy president Abang Johari Abang Openg (photo).

Of the Chinese in Adenan's cabinet, the highest position went to former UPP president Wong Soon Koh, who is now Sarawak's second finance minister.

SUPP president Sim Kui Han was made the state's local government minister.

Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has two posts. He is the second resource planning and environment minister and industrial and entrepreneur development, trade and investment minister.

Also on the state cabinet are youth, sports and solidarity minister Michael Manyin; welfare, women and community development minister Fatimah Abdullah and public utilities minister Stephen Rundi.