MALAYSIA • Singer Siti Nurhaliza has confirmed her pregnancy.

"I'm four months pregnant. There are no words that I can use to express my gratitude," the 38-year-old Malaysian artiste told the local media at her residence in Selangoron Friday night.

Siti also said her pregnancy was the reason she had been scaling back her singing performances and other engagements recently.

"As I was seeking treatment at a fertility centre, I wanted to focus on the process I was going through. This is why I had to turn down various invitations and job offers in the past few months and in the coming months," she said.

Being away from her work took some getting used to, the singer said. "I've missed my daily routine of being busy with work. These four months, I've been staying at home the whole time. I've been waiting for this for 11 years. Singing, I can do that whenever. So, I hope people will understand."

Siti, who suffered a miscarriage in December 2015, plans to share details of her fertility journey to help other women going through something similar.

"I will be working with a fertility centre to help women out there who have been waiting to have a baby," she said .

Her fans were ecstatic over the news, reported New Straits Times. "It's time for her to take a long break and enjoy the pregnancy," said Ms Zati Akhtar.

Mr Bavindh Dhaivendiron said he had much respect for Siti.

"As a non-Malay, I just highly regard her as the most respected celebrity... Tahniah (congratulations) Datuk Siti and husband. The all-time greatest singer the country has ever produced. Such a low-profile woman," he said.

And a Ms Fairuz Fadzilah Zaini said: "Imagine how long Siti waited for this (to happen)."

Siti and her husband Khalid Mohamad Jiwa tied the knot in 2006.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK