Special Affairs Department (JASA) panelist Lokman Noor Adam who welcomed the news of former UMNO supreme council member Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah joining PKR today, hoped the recent development will open the hearts of others who can no longer relate to UMNO to leave the party.

“Hope God will open the hearts of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he told Astro AWANI when contacted, today.

Lokman in a sarcastic tone, however questioned why Saifuddin had joined PKR and not DAP.

“I am disappointed that Saifuddin joined PKR. Not because he left UMNO but because he did not join DAP which is more suitable for him,” he said.

He was however optimistic that Saifuddin’s action would bring a positive impact to UMNO.

“After this, there will be less UMNO members who issue statements against the party’s stand,” he said.

“When he was in UMNO, we had to explain to the people each time Saifuddin takes the populist approach in giving his opinion over issues,” he said.

Saifuddin who is also the Global Moderates Movement (GMM) chief executive officer joined the PKR today.

He said among the reasons he left UMNO was because he was unhappy with the way the party handled the RM2.6 billion issue and the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).