VOA标准英语2008年-Malaysia's Anwar Says He Has Enough Parliament

Malaysia's opposition¹ leader Anwar Ibrahim says he has enough support from lawmakers to bring down the government, a claim Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denies. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins has more, from Jakarta.
　
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (File)

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim Tuesday sought a meeting with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to discuss what he calls a smooth transition of power.

"It depends on the initial discussion that we have. I don't preempt² that. But I hope that he can respond positively³ and then we will present the case. I have the numbers, so, I am prepared to say it," he said.

Anwar says more than enough lawmakers have switched from the ruling coalition⁴ to his opposition alliance, giving him the majority support he needs to bring the government down.

Prime Minister Abdullah brushed off Anwar's claims, saying his government will remain in power.

There has been increasing pressure on the government since it lost its two-thirds parliament majority in the March general elections, the first time the ruling Barisan Nacional lost its majority since independence, more than 50 years ago.

Anwar has pledged to end corruption⁵ and promote racial equality by ending the government's long-time policy of affirmative action for ethnic⁶ Malays, which ethnic Indians and Chinese Malaysians say is discriminatory.

Political analyst⁷ Koo Kay Peng says Anwar's popularity is at an all-time high, in part because Malaysians have become more aware of their rights.

"I feel very optimistic and I think there's a sense of awakeness - people are being more awakened⁹ of their rights," he said. "People are more awaken⁸ of their role in society building. And, we are beginning to see that young voices coming up to champion and even promote non-racialism. These young voices cut across racial lines."

Anwar says, if Mr. Abdullah refuses to meet with him, he may have to wait until parliament reconvenes, October 18, to take power.

 

1 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。

2 preempt   

v.先发制人；先取

参考例句：

• We arrived early at the theatre so as to preempt the front seats.我们早早来到剧院，以便捷足先登占到前排座位。
• He pre-empted any decision to sack him.他预先阻止了所有解雇他的决定。

3 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

4 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。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 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。

7 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

8 awaken   

vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起

参考例句：

• Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
• Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

9 awakened   

v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到

参考例句：

• She awakened to the sound of birds singing. 她醒来听到鸟的叫声。
• The public has been awakened to the full horror of the situation. 公众完全意识到了这一状况的可怕程度。 来自《简明英汉词典》