Perak Umno chief Saarani Mohamad reportedly said a circular would be issued for members to sign the petition.

“Perak will start now. Coincidentally, Umno divisions are holding meetings right now, so (the signatures) can be collected at the meetings,” he said, Sinar Harian reported.

Saarani, who is also Perak menteri besar, said the petition for Najib, called for by party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was not something out of the ordinary.

He said Umno supporters who sympathised with Najib would surely want the King to pardon Najib, while the palace would also want to see how many people were seeking a pardon for him.

Yesterday, Zahid had said at a special Umno briefing that a petition drive would be organised to press for a royal pardon.

Branch and divisional leaders would instruct members to show their support for their former president who began a 12-year jail term at Kajang prison last week.