VOA标准英语2008年-Malaysian Law Minister Quits as Government Face

A Malaysian minister has quit his post in protest about the government's crackdown on the opposition¹ by using a draconian² law which allows indefinite detention³ without trial. As VOA's Nancy-Amelia Collins reports from Jakarta, the government is facing mounting pressure from the opposition, which vows⁴ to topple the government this month.
　
Zaid Ibrahim (2006 file photo)

Malaysian Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim sent his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Monday, saying he was resigning because of the government's use of the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial.

In the past few days, the government used the ISA to arrest an opposition member of parliament and two journalists. One of the journalists has been released, but the other two people are still being held.

Political analyst⁵ Koo Kay Peng says the resignation puts the government under intense political pressure and doubts the ruling coalition⁶ will continue the crackdown against the opposition.

"I think initially⁷ we see that there is a potential [for a] second wave of crack-down," he said. "But from the way we look at it now, it will be very difficult because one thing for sure is that the decision to use the ISA is not supported by the coalition partners. And, as of today, law minister Zaid Ibrahim has just quit over the decision of the government using ISA. So, I think it will be very difficult for further crackdown."
　
Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, right, and his wife Wan⁸ Azizah arrive at Parliament house in Kuala Lumpur, 28 Aug 2008

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim - a former deputy prime minister - will lead an opposition rally Monday evening and says he is still confident of toppling the government.

In the March general elections, the opposition won a third of parliament, but the ruling coalition still has the power.

Anwar says he needs just 30 lawmakers to switch sides, to seize power.

Opposition leader Anwar earlier vowed⁹ to topple the government by September 16, but admits it may take longer, especially since the government sent 50 lawmakers on a trip to Taiwan, last week.

But political analyst Koo says the exact date is not important, what is important is the fact the winds of change are blowing through Malaysia.

"We should not be fixated over the 16th of September deadline," he said. "That is a very symbolic¹⁰ date and Anwar used that symbolically¹¹ to show that his fight is to unite Malaysians and we need to promote a new Malaysia. And, the formation of Malaysia happened 45 years ago on that exact date. But I believe that Malaysians are now a lot more mature lot. We should focus on the movement for change. And, this movement for change does not look stoppable."

Prime Minister Abdullah faces further challenges on September 18, when his United Malays National Organization will meet, amid calls from within the party for his resignation earlier than the 2010 agreement.

 

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 draconian   

adj.严苛的；苛刻的；严酷的；龙一样的

参考例句：

• You can't expect the people to obey such draconian regulations.你不能指望人民服从如此严苛的规定。
• The city needs a draconian way of dealing with robbers.这个城市需要一个严苛的办法来对付强盗。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

5 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。

6 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。

7 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

8 wan   

(wide area network)广域网

参考例句：

• The shared connection can be an Ethernet,wireless LAN,or wireless WAN connection.提供共享的网络连接可以是以太网、无线局域网或无线广域网。

9 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

10 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

11 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。