A group of parents and students in Bagan Datoh, Perak protested over a hike in school bus fares announced by their local school bus association last week.

According to Sinar Harian, the Perak Hilir School Buses Association hike will affect largely low income areas of Kampung Baru, Kampung Bunga Raya and the surrounding agricultural areas.

The fares have been raised in various degrees, some up to nearly 40 percent. One parent complained to the Malay daily of having to pay nearly RM100 a month for his two children.

Bagan Datoh PAS Youth chief Mustafa Saifuddin was reported saying the hikes were excessive.

"I understand the hikes are due to hikes in petrol and service fees and need to be done, but don't raise it by so much and so drastically," he was quoted saying.

He said he will appeal to the bus operators to reconsider the move.

Bagan Datoh is Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's constituency.

His win is being disputed after PKR's election petition that was earlier thrown out, was upheld on appeal by the Federal Court on Dec 23.