BN strategic communications director Eric See-To believes that the number of Special Affairs Department (Jasa) staff can be reduced if Pakatan Harapan leaders similarly reduced their "lies".

"If Harapan leaders and their propaganda team can lessen or eliminate fake news and their lies, I am confident that the number of Jasa staff can be reduced," See-To said in a statement posted on his Facebook page.

He was responding to Pakatan Harapan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who cited the Senarai Perjawatan 2018 (Staff List 2018), which lists that Jasa's director-general is paid up to RM20,592 a month under salary code VU7.

She had also pointed out how Jasa has a total staff of 272 and that they are being paid RM12.8 million.

Wan Azizah further questioned the rationale behind the Jasa director-general, Mohd Puad Zarkashi, receiving more than RM20,000 a month in wages.

Wan Azizah (photo) told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that this was more than the monthly salary of the communications and multimedia minister - who heads the ministry under which Jasa is located - but only receives a salary of RM14,907 a month.

She said See-To had answered her own question when she cited the 2018 staff list, which was passed by the government under salary code VU7.

"This is the rate gazetted for those holding the posts. Nothing extraordinary about it."

See-To added that spreading correct information and tackling fake news as well as the "opposition's lies" were part of Jasa's responsibilities.

He also cited DAP lawmaker Zairil Khir Johari's "confusing" statement on English textbooks and DAP state assemblyperson Tiew Way Keng, who he accused of posting her social media account a false form featuring the National Registration Department (NRD) supposedly asking applicants to vote for BN as examples of the "opposition's lies".

See-To said Wan Azizah should instead question PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution's RM12,000 monthly salary. Saifuddin was appointed as Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's strategy adviser.

Saifuddin's (photo) salary, said See-To, was higher than the RM11,250 salary of Penang state assemblypersons and only RM2,000 less than the basic salary of the Penang chief minister.

"What is Saifuddin's role and how does he contribute to Penang. Isn't it humiliating that the secretary-general of her party is the subordinate of the secretary-general of another party?" he questioned. 

"As a parliamentarian for the state of Penang, Wan Azizah should ask why is there a need for the Penang state government to appoint 46 staff for communications purposes and spend RM40 million in a few years to publish Buletin Mutiara, which is DAP's propaganda arm.

"She should ask DAP to foot the bill, instead of asking the Penang state government to do so," he said.