VOA标准英语2008年-Malaysia's Anwar Calls for Emergency Parliament

Malaysian opposition¹ leader Anwar Ibrahim has called for a special session of parliament to hold a vote of no confidence against the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins in Jakarta has more.
　
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim talks to media during press conference in Kuala Lumpur, 18 Sep 2008

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told a news conference Thursday he has sent a letter to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asking that an emergency session of parliament be held no later than September 23.

Parliament is currently in recess² until October 18.

Anwar says he expects an immediate³ answer from Mr. Abdullah and any delay "would be interpreted as nothing short of sabotage⁴."

Anwar says he has secured enough defectors from the ruling coalition⁵ to topple the government.

"We have received firm commitment from members of parliament in excess of the number required to form a new government. And our government will reflect the diverse make-up of Malaysia society," he said.

Mr. Abdullah has refused to meet with Anwar and denies the opposition leader has convinced enough lawmakers to switch sides.

Anwar has set the date for the emergency parliament session one day before he is due in court to answer charges he sodomized his male aide, a crime in Malaysia punishable by up to 20 years in jail.

Anwar denies the sodomy charge and says it is politically motivated to keep him from bringing down the government.

Anwar has promised if he takes power to implement⁶ economic reforms, end corruption⁷, and promote racial equality between the country's majority Malays and the minority ethnic⁸ Indian and Chinese Malaysians.

"We believe we can save Malaysia from economic ruin and the dangerous politics of racism⁹. We can do so prudently¹⁰, legally, and in doing so we will not jeopardize¹¹ the security and stability of the country and the safety of its people," he said.

Mr. Abdullah's government has been facing mounting pressure since the March general elections saw the ruling Barisan Nacional coalition loose its two-thirds majority in parliament, the first time it lost its majority since independence more than 50 years ago.

Mr. Abdullah is also facing dissent¹² from his own party members who want him to hand over power to his deputy, Najib Razak, before the 2010 deadline he had set for
himself.

On Wednesday Mr. Abdullah said he may step down before the 2010 deadline and handed the finance ministry¹³ to his deputy, Najib, setting in motion the eventual¹⁴ transfer of 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 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

4 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

5 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。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 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。

8 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。

9 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

10 prudently   

adv. 谨慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。
• They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。

11 jeopardize   

vt.危及，损害

参考例句：

• Overworking can jeopardize your health.工作过量可能会危及你的健康。
• If you are rude to the boss it may jeopardize your chances of success.如果你对上司无礼，那就可能断送你成功的机会。

12 dissent   

n./v.不同意，持异议

参考例句：

• It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。
• He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

13 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

14 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。