VOA常速英语2008年-Race Relations, Economic Worries Dominate Malay

By Luis Ramirez
Kuala Lumpur
07 March 2008

People in Malaysia head to the polls on Saturday in snap elections that are a referendum on the rule of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his long-ruling National Front coalition¹. The campaign has been dominated by concerns over ethnic² strife³ in the Southeast Asian nation, which has long been seen as a model for racial harmony among its Muslim Malay, ethnic Chinese, and Indian populations. VOA's Luis Ramirez reports from Kuala Lumpur.

Hundreds braved the pouring rain, chanting the word "reformasi" - or reforms - at an opposition⁴ rally in the pre-dawn hours of Friday in the Malaysian capital. Opposition supporters want reforms to end Malaysia's race-based political system and corruption⁵.

Public unhappiness over economic and racial issues has diminished the popularity of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and his long-ruling Barisan Nasional - or National Front - coalition in recent years. The economy has been growing at a healthy annual rate of six percent, but inflation and talk of a U.S. economic slowdown is causing unease.

Perhaps the most burning issue, however, is that of race relations in this country of 25 million that has long prided itself as a model of harmony among its majority Muslim Malays, and its ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. That image suffered last year when police jailed Indian activists⁶ and used tear gas and water cannon⁷ to put down protests by thousands of ethnic Indians who marched against what they said is marginalization of their people by Muslim Malays.

Some ethnic Indians and Chinese complain of religious intolerance, and they say set-asides favoring Muslim Malays have deprived them of educational and economic opportunities.

Malaysia's main political parties consist of single ethnic groups under the National Front coalition, which has ruled the country since 1957. Challenging the race-based political system is Anwar Ibrahim, a charismatic former deputy Prime Minister.

Anwar cannot run in these elections. He is barred from politics until next month due to a conviction on charges of corruption that were leveled against him after he fell out of favor with the National Front ten years ago. He has been campaigning for his People's Justice Party. He tells VOA why he believes the government decided⁸ to call elections just one month before he would be eligible⁹ to run.

"The intention is of course to deny me my right to participate in the elections. We are not due to have elections until the middle of next year," he said. "They say that the political climate is very, secure. Why do they need to rush, except to deny me my right to participate?"

Malaysian electoral law gives the government the option to call new elections within five years of the previous election. The last poll was in 2004.

Observers say voter apathy¹⁰ may be a problem on Saturday, with some Malaysians interviewed on the streets saying they will not bother to vote because they see no hope for change. They are also discouraged by reports of vote-buying, controls on the media, and restrictions¹¹ on freedom of expression.

Some people say they will vote on Saturday because they want to challenge the status quo and let the government know about their grievances¹². Fadzli Muhammad, a 23-year-old accounting¹³ student and a Muslim Malay, says he is concerned about Malaysia's future if ethnic divides are not addressed.

"Islam encourages us to unite [with] each other. From the unity¹⁴ we can develop as a good nation. If there is no cooperation, I think the nation will not develop," he said. "Without unity, our country will self-destruct."

Analysts¹⁵ expect Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's ruling coalition to win again, but with fewer seats than in the last elections when it captured control of more than 90 percent of parliament.

1 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。

2 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。

3 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。

4 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。

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 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 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。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 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。

10 apathy   

n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡

参考例句：

• He was sunk in apathy after his failure.他失败后心恢意冷。
• She heard the story with apathy.她听了这个故事无动于衷。

11 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

12 grievances   

n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚

参考例句：

• The trade union leader spoke about the grievances of the workers. 工会领袖述说工人们的苦情。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He gave air to his grievances. 他申诉了他的冤情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

14 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。

15 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。