KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 — Already under fire for the many controversies affecting his administration, Datuk Seri Najib Razak earned more criticism today, this time from MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel who accused the prime minister of triggering the ongoing faction war.

According to a report on The Star Online, Palanivel told thousands of supporters who turned up to see him at a mass rally today that it was Najib who “got involved in pressuring MIC to reject the 2013 election results”.

“It is the prime minister’s fault as he agreed to have the re-election,” Palanivel was quoted saying at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Since then, he pointed out that MIC has been embroiled in a court battle to challenge the Registrar of Societies’ (RoS) directive calling for it to hold a re-election.

“The RoS should not be involved in our party matters. These are our rules and our constitution. They can’t get involved,” he was quoted saying.

On June 16, the High Court binned two judicial review bids by Palanivel and others on the RoS’ directive for fresh polls, effectively upholding the authority’s call.

According to The Star Online, Palanivel said the MIC will hold its branch elections this August.

He also urged all 300 MIC branches to back him as their leader.

“Let us start campaigning against the RoS and all those who stand against us. Let us reclaim what rightfully belongs to MIC,” he was quoted saying.