Australian musician Kamahl has been charged with intimidating a woman 50 years younger than himself following a business-related dinner.

The 89-year-old Malaysian-born singer, who is reportedly facing one count of stalking with intent to cause fear, will face court in May.

The alleged victim, a 38-year-old woman, has applied for an apprehended violence order, the Nine Network reports.

It’s alleged Kamahl threatened the woman in a text exchange following a dinner she invited him to in May 2023 to ask for business funding, the network reported.

Kamahl told Nine the claim was unfounded and he has never faced sex crime-related charges.

There is no suggestion that he had committed a sex crime.

The woman alleges she was threatened in a text exchange that followed, Nine reports.

Kamahl – who is famous for the catchphrase whose catchphrase “why are people so unkind?” – told the network that he was not taking his medication when he replied to her.

“I’m an 89-year-old man … I was not being unkind. I was responding to a situation without all my faculties.” he said.

The alleged victim declined to comment.

Kamahl, born Kandiah Kamalesvaran, has been in the Australian music business for more than half a century, and was one of the first people to appear in concert at the Sydney Opera House.

He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1994.