Yuli Krisna – A group of about 30 people, comprising pedicab drivers, trash pickers, housewives and youth activists gathered in front of the West Java governor's office in Bandung on Wednesday to rally over the planned fuel price hike.

But while most demonstrations in recent days have featured vocal opposition to the government's proposal to raise the price of subsidized fuel, the Bandung contingent rallied in support of the policy.

Pedicab drivers put stickers on their vehicles expressing various messages of approval for the price increase, expected to go into effect on Sunday. Five provincial legislators from the Democratic Party also took part in the rally, including Zulkifli Chaniago.

Addressing the crowd, Zulkifli said the government intended to reduce the subsidy because it was mostly enjoyed by people in medium and higher income brackets. He also criticized rallies against the plan that emphasized the price hike but failed to mention the government's compensation programs.

The pro-government rally raised some eyebrows because its participants were from the lower income set that many say will be hardest hit if the fuel price hike triggers inflation.

One of the pedicab drivers said he would let the government decide what was best for the people. "I'm okay with it. It's up to the government to decide," said the 30-year-old man.

However, he also admitted that he had been paid to take part in the rally. "Yes, I was given money to buy food; Rp 100,000 [$11]. I took the money because I needed it," he said.

Another pedicab driver, Dudung, 78, also confessed to having been paid Rp 100,000 to join the rally. Although he took part in the gathering, Dudung said he opposed the fuel price hike plan.

"My wish is [that the fuel price] doesn't go up. The income of pedicab drivers is very low. I want the prices to be affordable for low-income people," he said.