Road Transport Department (RTD) deputy director-general Yusoff Ayob, who recently made headlines after being fined for a traffic violation, has been transferred to the Public Service Department (PSD), effective last Friday.

According to Utusan Malaysia, also transferred to the same department on the same day was RTD enforcement director V Valluvan Veloo, alleged to be involved in a break-in at the RTD director-general's office earlier this month, with three other RTD Special Action Force Unit personnel.

Deputy Transport Minister Ab Aziz Kaprawi said the transfers were just "normal practice" in the public service and should not be made into an issue.

"The transfers were done by the Public Service Department and the ministry respects the decision. As such, we ask (the people) to not speculate about the transfers," Aziz was quoted saying, adding that the duo, who were transferred according to procedures, were still in public service.

RTD director-general Nadzri Siron confirmed the two transfers were done according to PSD's requirements.

On July 18, Yusoff was fined RM600 by a magistrate's court in Putrajaya for driving on the emergency lane in Putrajaya on Oct 7 last year. He was not present in court and sent a representative to plead guilty on his behalf.

Last week, Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif said Yusoff's traffic offence case has been remitted back to the magistrate's court on the basis of him having failed to attend the sentencing.

As for the break-in case, it took place in the wee hours of July 13, when two persons broke into Nadzri's office. Three personnel from the RTD's Special Action Force Unit have since been detained to facilitate investigations into the matter.

Meanwhile, China Press quoted RTD deputy director-general (management) Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman as saying he was caught by surprise by the two transfers.

"Both Nadzri and I were not informed beforehand. We knew about it only on July 21, the date the transfers were effective from," Wan Ahmad said.