Amanah communications director Khalid Abdul Samad has suggested that preacher Zamihan Mat Zin may have misunderstood his claim that Zamihan had a “godfather” protecting him.

"(Maybe) he doesn't understand what ‘godfather’ means. Maybe he thinks ‘god’ refers to the deity, and ‘father’ is a priest. A godfather is someone who supports and protects. It is a good thing, and hebat (powerful)," Khalid told Malaysiakini.

On Wednesday, Zamihan threatened to sue Khalid for claiming that the preacher was protected by a "godfather".

Zamihan (photo) had demanded that Khalid apologises and also reveals the purported "godfather".

Speaking on the sidelines of the Amanah national convention in Alor Setar, Kedah, yesterday, Khalid said he was prepared to face Zamihan's lawsuit.

"If he wants evidence on why I said he had a godfather, I will show it (in court). He said a mufti was stupid, this means someone is protecting him as there has been no action taken (against him)," Khalid said.

Malaysiakini has contacted Zamihan and is waiting for a response from him.

On Tuesday, Khalid claimed that Zamihan's godfather was an influential person who had tried to seek an audience with Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar to save the preacher.

The preacher had landed in hot water after allegedly criticising Sultan Ibrahim's rebuke of a Muslim-only laundrette, a move that landed him in a sedition probe.

It also prompted the monarch to sever Johor's ties with the Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

Following this, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom and Jakim director-general Othman Mustapha sought an audience with Sultan Ibrahim.