KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is rife with anger about a tabloid story that film-maker Yasmin Ahmad used to be a man days after her death.

The Straits Times on Wednesday reported that according to Kosmo! newspaper, Yasmin, 51, was once a male singer, Zulkifli Ahmad, and the first runner-up of the Bintang RTM 1975 singing contest.

Four days after Kosmo! ran a front-page story with the headline 'Yasmin's fate: Dies as a woman, fans of all races weep for her', the tabloid came out with an apology to the demised film-maker's family and friends for publishing what friends have described as a 'salacious' story about her.

The Malaysian tabloid said it is concerned with the reactions from bloggers and friends.

A front-page apology stated: 'As a public-oriented newspaper, Kosmo! would like to apologise to Yasmin's family, friends and readers who are hurt by the publication of the article.'

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» Paper sorry over Yasmin story
» Yasmin Ahmad 'was a man'
» Farewell, Yasmin
» Yasmin's appearances on RazorTV