Two years after they moved away during the March 2008 election, Malaysia's nearly two million ethnic Indians are returning to the ruling alliance Barisan Nasional (BN), according to Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu.

That the Indians were returning to the BN was evident with many bringing their problems to the attention of the alliance constituent, Samy Vellu said Sunday.

He said MIC had received requests from some NGOs to set up party branches.

The Star daily quoted Vellu as saying that MIC was not a party formed a year, two or five years ago, but one which was set up 64 years ago.

'We have a set-up with proper infrastructure and 634,000 members, and the party is involved in programmes throughout the country.'

Vellu said the 3,600 branches of MIC had been directed to organise at least 10 activities a year.

Vellu lost his re-election bid in March 2008 and MIC came down to three seats in the general election.