Tight security makes you feel it’s ‘The Avengers’
AS a first-time visitor to the Big Apple, I was in awe of the spectacle unfolding in midtown Manhattan.
Security is so tight it is almost as if every other person you see on the street is a policeman, policewoman or a uniformed Secret Service agent.
Crossing the street can take 10 minutes as police keep back pedestrians while awaiting VIP convoys to pass through roads that have been closed off to regular traffic.
The road closures have led to congestion so bad it has been officially classified as “gridlock” by the US Department of Transportation.
Outside the entrance to the opulent Trump Tower, huge white New York Department of Sanitation dump trucks are parked in a row.
The trucks have been placed there to create a security barrier at the building where US President Donald Trump has been staying for the past few days.
The tightened security can make you feel as if you are in The Avengers. Parts of the film were shot here and it feels as though a superhero battle is about to break out at any time.
The reality is, thankfully, much less alarming.
It is for the more than 100 world leaders who are here for the annual United Nations General Assembly.
And, the New York Police Department personnel, despite being portrayed as fearsome in films and YouTube videos, are actually very courteous in real life.
They are more than willing to give directions to lost visitors and even pose for wefies.
Since May 9, there has been a stark contrast to how Malaysians are treated in New York. Thankfully, they need not have to feel uneasy when asked about the country’s scandals that have grabbed international headlines of late.
Before the general election, even taxi drivers would ask Malaysians about the 1Malaysia Development Berhad controversy.
With a new government and authorities finally tackling the case head on, it has become easier to answer foreigners’ questions.
Several days ago, outside the UN building, a delegate asked a group of Malaysian journalists where they came from.
After one of us replied, the delegate said: “You have a new Prime Minister, right? Good for you!”