PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The world exclusive on Jho Low by The Star has caught the attention of the global media.

Gawker, an American website based in New York City, carried the interview of Low with The Star on its story "Paris Hilton's mysterious Malaysian party boy tells all".

The website reported that according to news, Low was paying US$1mil (S$1.36mil) to hang out with her in St Tropez but he told The Star he knew Paris primarily through her parents, whom he had met through his good friend.

The website picked up Low's explanation on rumours of him renting an apartment in Park Imperial as well as Paris and her sister Nikki accompanying him to St Tropez.

The Newkerala.com, based in India, published the story on Low with the headline "Paris Hilton is just part of group, says Malaysian businessman".

The website reported that Low spent a long time in the interview dismissing talk that he was "wasting a lot of money partying".

A Singapore website asiaone.com published the interview with the headline "Paris Hilton's Malaysian tycoon made his 1st million at 20".

Singapore's The Straits Times, in its headline "US$1m before graduation", also summarised the stories published in The Star.

Local dailies as well as news portals and television stations also picked up the interview. Petaling Jaya-based portal Malaysian Mirror headlined its lead story, "Big spender Jho Low speaks up".

A day after the interview was published, the 28-year-old multilingual Penangite Low continued to get media attention.

New York Post in its story "Paris parties with Jho Low for free", reported that Hilton denied she had been paid US$1mil to party with Low in St Tropez. Its website quoted a Hilton representative as saying that they were just friends and that Low had invited Paris and her sister Nicky out as friends.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is proud to note the accomplishments of Penangites who are based overseas, including the "well-connected" Low.

"Low is among many Penangites who have excelled internationally. This augurs well for the state as Penangites have shown they have a tremendous ability to succeed when given the necessary opportunities," he said after opening the three-day National ICT Asso?ciation of Malaysia trade fair at the Penang International Sports Arena here.