The local English daily The Star in a statement today refuted allegations of misreporting by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, and stood by the journalist who interviewed him.

“ The Star stands by the article based on an interview with Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy on Dec 21 by our journalist Ian McIntyre,” the statement said.

Yesterday, the embattled DAP deputy secretary-general Ramasamy denied having told the journalist that there was a conspiracy to oust him from power.

The Star quoted its journalist Ian McIntyre as saying that Ramasamy even named those plotting against him, but had not published those names “out of fairness”.

The statement went on to say that Ramasamy had called the journalist on the day of the publication of the article, had clarified some points and agreed with its updated online edition.

Ramasamy at the press conference yesterday called the article “baseless and frivolous”.

“The last thing I want to do is to talk about internal party matters with the press,” he said.

The Star’s statement said the interview had been arranged and agreed upon by Ramasamy and its journalist.

McIntyre was quoted as saying that he felt the interview was necessary to give Ramasamy an opportunity to air his response to allegations of poor governance made against him by DAP grassroots activists.

Ramasamy has been caught in political controversy since he accused the Tamil daily Makkal Osai for misquoting him, prompting the “godfather-warlord” row with DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh earlier this month.

The Star’s article published on Dec 23 led Karpal to call for Ramasamy’s resignation as deputy chief minister II of Penang.