Malaysia's leading pop star Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin has caused a sensation in the conservative country by declaring she is in love, as media reports connected her with a married man.

Siti Nurhaliza confessed in interviews to promote her new album that she is in love with an unnamed man and "enjoying every minute of it".

"I am ready to get married at any time. I can't lie about that. But at the moment, I do not have any definite plans," the 27-year-old said according to the Star daily.

Siti has been widely linked to leading businessman Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, a 47-year-old married man, but she has repeatedly brushed aside the rumours.

However in remarks published Friday, she admitted that the "romance episode" was the biggest obstacle in her 11-year career.

"I have weathered the harshest storm, but this is the most trying for me," she said.

National icon

A national icon in Malaysia, Siti has released about a dozen Malay-language albums which mainly feature love songs. She has also garnered legions of adoring fans in neighbouring Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore.

Her wholesome, girl-next-door image is popular with the region's large Muslim population which frowns on sexy foreign artists.

Siti repeatedly refused to confirm the identity of her beau, and when asked if she was doing so out of concern for her family, she maintained that her private life was her own business and not her family's.

"It's not that I do not want to listen to them. I still need their advice but like I said before, I will decide my life," she said.

Siti has previously been the target of hate mail alleging that she had artificially enhanced her beauty and indulged in sex romps. The disparaging e-mails were sent to entertainment journalists and later widely disseminated.