Kuala Lumpur (PTI): Malaysia's top court on Wednesday refused to free five ethnic Indian leaders detained indefinitely under a draconian security law, dashing hopes of the community which has been campaigning for their release.

Dismissing an appeal of the five leaders of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf), held for organising a massive rally of ethnic Indians to protest their alleged marginalisation, the Federal Court held the detention as lawful.

The court's three-man panel led by Chief Judge of Malaya Alauddin Mohd Sheriff said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his capacity as the then Internal Security Minister had rightly issued the detention order and had complied with the procedural requirements under the Internal Security Act.

The bench unanimously upheld the High Court's decision to quash the leaders' habeas corpus application seeking release from detention under ISA.

The Act allows indefinite detention without trial.

The Hindraf five -- lawyers M Manoharan, 46, who has been recently elected a state assembly member, P Uthayakumar, 46, V Ganabatirau, 34, R. Kengadharan, 40, and Hindraf coordinator T Vasantha Kumar -- were represented by lawyer and opposition Democratic Action Party leader Karpal Singh who said he would file for a review petition against the ruling on Monday.

The respondents were represented by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.

Family members and relatives of the five were present at the Federal Court. Several were seen sobbing after the decision, media reports said.