KUALA LUMPUR: An NGO has submitted a petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong seeking a royal pardon for former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was convicted of graft last year.

       Pertubuhan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia (PSUAM) chairman Syed Muhammad Imran Syed Abdul Aziz said a pardon would pave the way for Najib to become prime minister on an interim basis.

       “I suggest that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong give Najib a royal pardon from any court action, whether ongoing or for which he has already been convicted.

       “In my opinion, Najib did a good job throughout his tenure as the sixth prime minister,” he said in a statement. The NGO submitted the petition yesterday.

       In a response on Facebook, Najib said he would rather clear his name in court.

       “I repeat... I want my cases to be tried and the legal system to be fair and transparent because this is the only way for me to clear my name. I don’t want my cases to be dropped and I don’t want any political intervention,” he said, adding that he was confident of proving his innocence.

       Last October, the Pekan MP was jailed 12 years and fined RM210mil by the High Court after being found guilty of all seven charges which included abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering.

       Najib, who is appealing the sentence, also faces several other corruption charges.