《中英對照讀新聞》Singapore MP set on fire in attack by 70-yr-old／新加坡國會議員遭70歲老人縱火攻擊

◎魏國金

A Singaporean member of parliament was attacked and set on fire on Sunday by a 70-year-old man who was angry at not being given a Chinese New Year gift, the country’s state broadcaster said.

新加坡一位國會議員遭一名不滿沒有獲贈新年禮物的70歲老人縱火攻擊，新加坡國營電視台說。

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Seng Han Thong was taken to hospital with between 10 and 15 percent burns after the assault during a ceremony to present Chinese New Year gifts at a community club, Channel NewsAsia reported.

成漢通在一個社區俱樂部舉辦的贈送中國新年禮物典禮時遭襲擊後，受到10％至15％面積的燒傷而被送到醫院救治，亞洲新聞頻道報導。

The chairman of a nearby Chinese temple Aw Swee Seng, who organised the event, also suffered. "A man ran in, lit a bottle of kerosene and threw it at Mr Seng. Half of Mr Seng’s hair was burnt ... his back suffered burns as well," a witness named Zhang said.

會場附近一間中國廟宇住持、活動主辦人歐世成（譯音）也遭波及。「一個男子跑進來，點燃一瓶煤油，然後丟向成先生，成先生一半的頭髮被燒掉，他的背部也燒傷，」一名張姓目擊者說。

Temple officials said the man was disgruntled at not being selected to receive the hong bao, which contained S$200 （$135.）

廟方人員說，男子因為沒有被選上接受紅包而忿恨難消；紅包袋裡裝有新加坡幣200元。

Singapore was the first country in Asia to fall into a recession last year. It has one of the highest GDP per capita in the world, ahead of the United States on 2007 figures, but ranks alongside Kenya for income disparity. The ruling People’s Action Party says welfare should not be a crutch and there is no unemployment benefit.

新加坡是去年第一個掉入衰退的亞洲國家。他的平均每人國民生產毛額是全球最高的國家之一，2007年的數值還領先美國，但收入不均的排名與肯亞旗鼓相當。執政的人民行動黨說，福利不應是一個依靠，新加坡沒有失業救濟金。

新聞辭典

set on fire︰（片語）縱火，play with fire（玩火）、pull out of fire（使轉危為安）；例句︰He who plays with fire gets burned.（玩火者必自焚。）

disgruntled︰不滿的、不高興的。例句︰The workers are disgruntled with their wages.（工人對他們的工資感到不滿。）

crutch︰T字型柺杖、精神支柱、依靠。例句︰Religion was her crutch in times of sorrow.（宗教是她憂傷時的精神支柱。）