The teacher behind a demonstration today to protest the school-based assessment system (SBA) has been transferred with immediate effect.

Mohd Nor Izzat Mohd Johari, who is Suara Guru Masyarakat Malaysia working group chief, said he had received the letter of transfer yesterday from the district education office.

The visual arts teacher declined to name the schools, but said he only had to travel 25km to his current school in Jerantut whereas his new school will be 80km away.

"I am confused because I was transferred without reasonable grounds.

"The excuse given was  a cliche - that my services are required at the new place," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Izzat noted that even though he received the letter yesterday, it had been dated Feb 17  signed by the state district office director.

Despite the transfer, Izzat insisted that he will report to his old school tomorrow.

He added that he will be seeking legal advice over the abrupt transfer.

Izzat said the transfer will not deter his spirit to see the ‘222 Mansuh PBS (222 Abolish SBA)’ protest that will start at 1pm at the Bandar Baru Bangi mosque today.

Teachers have complained about the poor manner in which the SBA was rolled out, forcing them to be tied up with data entry on top of a system that is unreliable and constantly crashes.

The government has since announced that the system is under review.