VOA常速英语2008年-Malaysia Holds General Elections Dominated by E

By Luis Ramirez
Kuala Lumpur
08 March 2008

Polls have opened in Malaysia, where voters are casting ballots¹ in snap elections that the longtime ruling coalition² is expected to win. The government called the elections to reaffirm its mandate³ in the face of growing divisions among the country's majority Muslim Malay people and ethnic⁴ Indian and Chinese minorities. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Kuala Lumpur.

The government of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi called the elections months after police cracked down on thousands of ethnic Indians who took to the streets protesting what they say is discrimination at the hands of the country's majority Malay Muslims.

Observers expect Mr. Badawi's ruling Barisan Nasional - or National Front coalition - to win a majority of seats in the parliament as it has every election since independence in the 1950's. But they also say that victory may not come as easily as before.

Scenes of police using teargas and water cannon⁵ against thousands of people in the shadow of Kuala Lumpur's gleaming skyscrapers⁶ shattered Malaysia's image as a model for ethnic harmony. Among the demonstrators demands: an end to Malaysia's race-based political system - a rallying point for the opposition⁷ in the run-up to this election.

The ruling coalition consists of race-specific parties that are supposed to represent the interests of each group. Kannan Ramasamy, an ethnic Indian activist⁸, says many ethnic Indians are disillusioned⁹ with the coalition and want a system that will give them equality. "We very much disagree with race based politics and we should be going forward to have unity¹⁰ politics."

A longstanding system of providing set-asides for ethnic Malays has caused resentment¹¹ among many ethnic Indians and Chinese who believe the affirmative action programs are depriving them of opportunities in education, business, and housing.

The ruling coalition has for years talked about changing the system. "We believe everything has to be done as a process. There has to be a transition process," said Shahrul, executive secretary of the youth wing of the United Malays National Organization, the Malay party in the ruling coalition.

The coalition's selling point in these elections is that its policies have brought stability to Malaysia and made its economy one of the most robust¹² in the region - things Shahrul argues are good reasons to keep the system in place. "When things are progressing very well, we don't see why there needs to be a change," he said.

Analysts¹³ say frustration¹⁴ over a lack of change may drive many minorities to vote for the opposition on Saturday, lessening¹⁵ the Barisan Nasional coalition's mandate in the parliament. More than 90 percent of the seats in the outgoing parliament are controlled by the Barisan Nasional.

More than 10 million Malaysia's 25 million people are eligible¹⁶ to vote. Results are expected late Saturday.

1 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

4 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

5 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

6 skyscrapers   

n.摩天大楼

参考例句：

• A lot of skyscrapers in Manhattan are rising up to the skies. 曼哈顿有许多摩天大楼耸入云霄。
• On all sides, skyscrapers rose like jagged teeth. 四周耸起的摩天大楼参差不齐。

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

9 disillusioned   

a.不再抱幻想的，大失所望的，幻想破灭的

参考例句：

• I soon became disillusioned with the job. 我不久便对这个工作不再抱幻想了。
• Many people who are disillusioned in reality assimilate life to a dream. 许多对现实失望的人把人生比作一场梦。

10 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

11 resentment   

n.怨愤，忿恨

参考例句：

• All her feelings of resentment just came pouring out.她一股脑儿倾吐出所有的怨恨。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer.她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。

12 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

13 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

14 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

15 lessening   

减轻，减少，变小

参考例句：

• So however much he earned, she spent it, her demands growing and lessening with his income. 祥子挣多少，她花多少，她的要求随着他的钱涨落。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
• The talks have resulted in a lessening of suspicion. 谈话消减了彼此的怀疑。

16 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。