KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming increase in school bus fares, set to take effect next month, was agreed upon between the schools' Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and bus operators.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the ministry is not involved in the matter.
"School bus fares are not under our jurisdiction, and the Transport Ministry has no control over them.
"The fares are no longer regulated by the ministry; they are decided between the PTA and the operators," Loke explained during a press conference.
His response came following the recent announcement from the Malaysian School Bus Operators Association (GPBSM) that an increase in school bus fares for the 2025 school session was expected to proceed starting February.
GPBSM president Mohd Rofik Mohd Yusof said the decision was entirely based on negotiations between the bus operators and parents, without government intervention.
However, National Parent-Teacher Associations Consultative Council (PIBGN) president Associate Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan said the decision to increase school bus fares should involve discussions with parents, schools, and PIBG.
The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) has also issued a warning about taking action against business associations that openly announce expected price increases.