SINGAPORE - First-year backbenchers Foo Cexiang and Shawn Loh will take political office following a Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on July 22.

Foo, who is a first-term MP in Tanjong Pagar GRC, will be Minister of State for Manpower and Trade and Industry from September 2026. He joins existing Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash in the ministry.

Loh, who is also a first-term MP in Jalan Besar GRC, will be Minister of State at the Education and Health Ministries from January 2027.

Both had entered politics at the 2025 General Election.

“They have made a good start as MPs,” noted PM Wong, as he announced a slew of changes to the Cabinet during a press conference at the National Press Centre.

“I am bringing them into Government now, so they can gain experience and develop further, while we continue to build the next generation of leaders.”

Foo, a civil servant for over a decade, was a former director at the Transport Ministry, where he oversaw private and future mobility. Loh was also a senior civil servant, who was most recently director of security and resilience programmes at the Finance Ministry.

Their appointments mean that all six senior civil servants fielded by the People’s Action Party in the last election now hold political office. The other four are Jeffrey Siow, Dinesh Vasu Dash, Jasmin Lau and Goh Han Yan.

In his 14 months as MP, Foo has worked with residents on projects such as a recycling trial in Tiong Bahru and a participatory budgeting project in Spottiswoode Park estate, which allows them more say in how funds are allocated for neighbourhood improvements.

Loh, who was Budget director in 2024 and 2025, has been vocal in Parliament on issues such as wealth tax, social inequality and the rising cost of living.

During the Budget debate in February, he proposed ideas such as calling for the Government to share any fiscal surpluses exceeding 2 per cent of gross domestic product with Singaporeans.

There were also promotions among the ranks of first-year political office holders.

Jasmin Lau will be appointed Acting Minister for Manpower, and Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Digital Development and Information. She will relinquish her appointment in the Education Ministry.

Goh Pei Ming will be promoted to Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development.

PM Wong also announced other changes in political office-holder appointments.

Alvin Tan will be Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will remain Minister of State in the Ministry of National Development, butl relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim will be Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and remain Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He will relinquish his appointment in the Ministry of Social and Family Development.