KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 — A day after announcing the death of iconic Taiwanese singer Liu Wen-cheng, his manager has made an about-turn and now denies the news.

Speaking to ET Today, Hsia Yu-shun claimed he was asked by Liu to release the news of his death as he had been pestered to return to singing.

According to Hsia, someone had offered to pay Liu a lot of money to entice him to return to the stage but had been declined by Liu.

Hsia, however, said Liu had indeed suffered a heart attack in November last year but was saved.

Liu’s aunt, Lily Lee Levin confirmed that Liu is still alive, as reported by stars.udn.com.

According to Levin, Liu had contacted her via telephone.

Liu told Levin that he was presently in the Philippines and would not be issuing any statement regarding the fake news.

Hsia had told the media on Wednesday (February 15) that Liu passed away in November due to a heart attack.

He claimed he was informed of the matter by Liu’s family when he contacted them in December.

Liu entered showbiz in 1975 and his stardom spread to China and the rest of South-east Asia.

Among his biggest hits were Late and Soft Rain in March.

He temporarily left the industry in 1984 and relocated to the United States only to return to Taiwan two years later to set up a company where he groomed singers like Eric Moo, Annie Yi and Fang Wen-lin.

He eventually left the industry in 1991.

According to 8days, Liu was once hailed as the ‘First Ancestor of Idols’ for the impact he left on the music industry and bagged three Golden Bell Awards for Best Male Singer before the age of 30.

Said to be from a wealthy family, Liu lived a comfortable life as a property investor following his retirement from the entertainment industry.