Ng Chee Meng moves to Faishal’s seat in front bench as Parliament adjusts seating plan

Ng, who is also labour chief, previously held several Cabinet positions, including Education Minister (Schools) and Second Minister for Transport. He lost his MP seat following the 2020 General Election when he was defeated by a Workers’ Party team in Sengkang GRC.

He made a return in GE2025 after a narrow victory in the Jalan Kayu single seat and took his seat in Parliament in the row directly opposite the front bench.

With Ng’s move to the front bench, former senior minister of state Koh Poh Koon now takes over that seat.

Zaqy Mohamad, who is Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, and Sim Ann, who was promoted in the recent reshuffle to Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, remain seated just behind the front bench.

Newly promoted Acting Manpower Minister Jasmin Lau moves down the row to sit next to them.

Similarly, Goh Pei Ming has moved down the same row to take a seat closer to the centre, reflecting his new rank as senior minister of state.

Two backbench MPs and former senior civil servants – Foo Cexiang and Shawn Loh – were also appointed as ministers of state in the recent reshuffle but have yet to be sworn in. Their seats are now next to other ministers of state.

Foo will be Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry from September, while Loh will be Minister of State for Education and Health from January 2027.