SINGAPORE - If there is one woman who is upset about the rumours regarding an alleged affair between Sylvester Sim and a colleague who works at the same bar where he is currently the entertainment manager, it is Sim’s grandmother.

In a media conference early today (Jan 19), the singer said his grandmother has been chiding him since last week, when screenshots of his suggestive text conversations with the woman, who is married, circulated online. Sim, who is also married, has flatly denied the allegations, saying that they were taken out of context.

“My ah ma (Hokkien for ‘grandmother’) scolded me,” Sim said, adding that his grandmother has been telling him off since he was a child for his penchant for speaking in a flippant manner.

“But not everyone can accept it ... sometimes I am sincerely nice, but I have to pay attention to (what I say), so I don’t mislead other people.”

In response to questions from reporters, Sim said he wanted to clear the air regarding the rumours, but did not wish to interfere with his colleague’s family affairs. He did, however, say that he intends to be more careful in the future with the way he speaks.

“I am more direct when I speak. It’s not that I am not mature ... but I talk to everyone in the same way,” he said. “When I talk sometimes, I have to be considerate. Not everyone can accept the way I speak.”

Sim also announced the release of his new Mandarin single A New Hope, which is available on streaming sites such as Spotify and KKBox; as well as the launch of his songwriting competition, Are You My Lyricist, details of which he said he would post on his website soon.

The 33-year-old, who plans to release his new album by the end of this year, also hopes to collaborate with local musicians like fellow Singapore Idol alumnus Taufik, Alfred Sim and Wang Weiliang in the coming months.

“Many people asked me if (the scandal) was a publicity stunt, but it really isn’t,” Sim said. “I can’t joke around with other people’s family, or with my own family.”