Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy is unperturbed by calls for his resignation by party supremo Karpal Singh and is instead blaming the latest brouhaha on misreporting by a national daily.
The embattled DAP deputy secretary-general, in an apparent move to settle the dispute, denied the content of a report in The Starof Dec 23 under the heading ‘DAP in distress’.
"On the morning of Dec 23, I called the reporter to express my regret about the content of the said article," Ramasamy told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
"He (the reporter) promised to put a retraction the same day on the publication's website.
The embattled DAP deputy secretary-general, in an apparent move to settle the dispute, denied the content of a report in The Starof Dec 23 under the heading ‘DAP in distress’."On the morning of Dec 23, I called the reporter to express my regret about the content of the said article," Ramasamy told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
"He (the reporter) promised to put a retraction the same day on the publication's website.
However, on Dec 24, the statement was reduced to one sentence in an article headed 'DAP's Ramasamy changes his tune', he said.
'No grand design to oust me'
In the contentious article of Dec 23, Ramasamy had allegedly said that there was a plot to topple him because he did not heed requests for projects and favours from the party grassroots.
"They are now conspiring to invoke a grand design to oust me," Ramasamy was quoted saying.
This led to DAP national chairperson Karpal’s outburst, demanding Ramasamy resigns as Penang's deputy chief minister for not toeing the DAP central executive committee's (CEC) directive to refrain from making any public statement on the party or to openly attack its leaders.
"I categorically reject the allegations that I said DAP leaders were corrupt and that there was a grand design to oust me from Penang," said Ramasamy.
He explained that he had met with several reporters , including one from The Star, on Dec 21 to discuss state-related issues. However,The Star reported something else.
In the contentious article of Dec 23, Ramasamy had allegedly said that there was a plot to topple him because he did not heed requests for projects and favours from the party grassroots.
"They are now conspiring to invoke a grand design to oust me," Ramasamy was quoted saying.
This led to DAP national chairperson Karpal’s outburst, demanding Ramasamy resigns as Penang's deputy chief minister for not toeing the DAP central executive committee's (CEC) directive to refrain from making any public statement on the party or to openly attack its leaders.
"I categorically reject the allegations that I said DAP leaders were corrupt and that there was a grand design to oust me from Penang," said Ramasamy.
He explained that he had met with several reporters , including one from The Star, on Dec 21 to discuss state-related issues. However,The Star reported something else.
Adding that the content of the report was "baseless and frivolous", Ramasamy said he felt that "injustice" had been done to him.
"The last thing I want to do is to talk about internal party matters with the press," he said.
Asked if he had written to the CEC to explain the situation, Ramasamy, who is in Kuala Lumpur for a break, said that he preferred to defend himself through the media.
No problems with Karpal
"I am entitled to a clarification and that's why I arranged for this press conference."
"I am entitled to a clarification and that's why I arranged for this press conference."
Together with Ramasamy today, were DAP parliamentarians Charles Santiago (Klang), and M Manogaran (Teluk Intan), as well as senator S Ramakrishnan and Sungkai state assemblyperson A Sivanesan.
Just as tension was easing between Karpal and Ramasamy on the public spat over the "godfather-warlord" row, the latest Ramasamy-Karpal exchange on Christmas Eve has again cast the spotlight on infighting within the DAP.
Just as tension was easing between Karpal and Ramasamy on the public spat over the "godfather-warlord" row, the latest Ramasamy-Karpal exchange on Christmas Eve has again cast the spotlight on infighting within the DAP.
Asked whether he was on talking terms with Karpal, Ramasamy replied: "Why not? He (Karpal) is the national party chair. I've got no problems with him... I even used to call Karpal for advice from time to time."
He also left it to the party to decide on the next course of action, keeping mum on whether he would resign as Penang deputy chief minister.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Ramasamy has blamed the media for misquoting him.
He had earlier blamed Tamil daily Makkal Osai for misquoting him, prompting the whole “godfather-warlord” row.
He also left it to the party to decide on the next course of action, keeping mum on whether he would resign as Penang deputy chief minister.
This is the second time in recent weeks that Ramasamy has blamed the media for misquoting him.
He had earlier blamed Tamil daily Makkal Osai for misquoting him, prompting the whole “godfather-warlord” row.
The daily later admitted to Ramasamy's charge that he was misquoted and published a clarification.
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