VOA标准英语2009年-Malaysian Opposition Pledges to End Bi

（单词翻译）

Major rifts¹ within the opposition² have been cited as the biggest factor likely to thwart³ efforts by their leader Anwar Ibrahim to win control of government at the next election.

Luke Hunt | Kota Kinabalu 20 December 2009

Major rifts within the opposition have been cited as the biggest factor likely to thwart efforts by their leader Anwar Ibrahim to win control of government at the next election, due by 2013, although some analysts⁴ say a poll could be held as early as next year.

More than 1,500 opposition officials endorsed⁵ a document that spelled out their common goals after a daylong convention aimed at patching-up their differences.

The three-party alliance made unprecedented⁶ inroads in the 2008 general elections but those gains were also attributed to widespread anger over the government's handling of problems such as graft⁷ and racial inequality.

Speaking to the party faithful in the eastern state of Sabah on Sunday, Anwar says Malaysia is witnessing a battle between the common interests of the people against the ruling elites⁹.

"At times the contentious¹⁰ battle is between the interests of the masses, the public, of the nation, of the people, and the interests of a special elite⁸ group, either family, cronies or political elements. And in this battle – [a] contentious battle -- invariably the public will lose," he said.

Spats¹¹ within the opposition stem largely from ideological¹² differences among the three opposition parties which consist of a conservative Islamic group that caters¹³ to the Malay Muslim majority; a secular¹⁴, left-leaning party whose members are mostly from the ethnic¹⁵ Chinese and Indian minorities; and Anwar's multiracial party, considered the bridge between the other two partners.

However, these parties will still require a substantial swing if they are to win power at the next election. The National Front, spearheaded by the all powerful United Malays National Organization (UMNO) has dominated Malaysia politics since independence in 1957.