Meanwhile, MIC information chief M Saravanan said the party president was merely expressing the feelings of the majority of Indians who want the five to be released from detention.
"All he (Samy Vellu) said was that he will take the plea to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for consideration
"They (the five) had consistently said they were prepared to meet Abdullah which shows that they still have respect for the prime minister," he added in a statement.
Saravanan, who is also deputy federal territories minister, pointed out that if Samy Vellu wanted to use the Hindraf issue to gain political mileage, he would have done so before the March 8 elections.