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Lawmaker warns of hitman at large

A Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmaker claimed yesterday that a professional hitman entered the country in September and might attempt to assassinate the presidential candidates.

"[The professional killer], who is wanted by the Interpol, is from the Philippines," KMT Legislator Chen Chieh (陳杰) said when questioning Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) on the legislative floor.

Chang said that he had heard nothing about it and asked the head of the National Police Agency, Hou Yu-yi (侯友宜), to question Chen about the matter.

Hou visited Chen's legislative office later yesterday

Chen didn't provide any further details to support his claim, Hou told reporters after holding a short meeting with Chen.

"We don't have any further information with which to launch an investigation," Hou said.

Back on the legislative floor, KMT Legislator Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) asked Chang to promise that the government would ensure a smooth transfer of power, should the KMT win, after the country's next president is elected on March 22.

Chang said that there would be neither a reshuffle of civil servants nor politically appointed officials between March 22 and the May 20 forming of a new government.

The Cabinet will not propose policies, draw up budgets for projects, issue directives, or sign any agreements with foreign countries that the president-elect might disagree with, he said.

Chang said the government would give intelligence briefings concerning cross-strait and diplomatic affairs, defense and domestic government affairs to the newly elected president to ensure continuity of government operation after the election.

The government will provide the new leader of the country with preferential treatment and with suitable protection after he is elected.

Meanwhile, at the request of Cheng and KMT Legislator Shuai Hua-min (帥化民), Minister of National Defense Michael Tsai (蔡明憲) pledged that he would take an oath of allegiance to the president-elect on behalf of the military immediately after he is elected.

"The military's mission is to maintain stability of the country and protect the security of the public. As such, the military will definitely pledge loyalty to whoever is elected, as stipulated by the Constitution," Tsai said.

Earlier yesterday on the legislative floor, Chang dismissed allegations that the government would increase the prices of oil and electricity once the presidential election is finished.

"The completion of the presidential election is not the only prerequisite for the government to raise the prices. The [local] oil price will be adjusted in accordance with the existing floating oil price mechanism," Chang said.

He made the remarks in response to a report in yesterday's Chinese-language China Times that quoted economic officials as saying that the government was planning to raise the price of electricity and oil after a new leader's inauguration on May 20.

The government froze the prices of water, electricity, liquefied natural gas, gasoline and natural gas in November to buffer the impact of surging international oil prices on households, stores and small and medium-sized businesses.
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