MALAYSIAN DELEGATES CAN GET FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE OF NEW YORK’S LEGENDARY TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK

NEW YORK, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian delegation led by Foreign
Minister Anifah Aman to New York from Oct 22 to 28 to attend the 66th United
Nations General Assembly, can get a first-hand sampling of the city’s legendary
traffic gridlock that traditionally takes place during the first two to three
weeks of the General Assembly.

Even without the General Assembly session, the Big Apple’s traffic is a
nerve-racking experience not only for motorists but also for the thousands of
pedestrians who have to move around the city, mostly, on their feet on the
city’s busy car-packed streets.

Indeed, a visit to the city becomes a true safety battle both for the
pedestrians and the impatient motorists as they negotiate their way through the
city under the watchful eyes of the an ever-alert traffic police force.

The visiting Malaysian contingent will not be the only foreign delegation to
descend on the Big Apple during a very busy General Assembly session.

The city virtually becomes a fortress as hordes of uniformed and
plain-clothes security personnel comb through the streets, making sure that
there are no dangers lurking for the precious human cargo transported in
limousines and specially-designed cars.

US President Barack Obama, whose oratory at the world body in the past
received rave notices, will be attending the General Assembly.

Besides the US President, there will be hundreds of other world leaders
and diplomats visiting New York to participate at the General Assembly session
which began today (Monday).

“It’s going to be a nightmare,” said one Asean diplomat who lives in upstate
New Jersey but has to come to New York every day to work.

“As it is, the daily commute from upstate New Jersey to New York city is
stressful, but it becomes a nightmare during the first two or three weeks of the
General Assembly every year. If Malaysians complain about Kuala Lumpur’s
traffic, they have to see New York’s incredible traffic,” he told Bernama.

The police and security officials of the city work round the clock to not
only provide some order to the disorderly motorists and pedestrians alike but
also ensure that the hordes of prominent personalities such as heads of
government, foreign ministers and other luminaries are safe during their stay in
New York.

Sources at the New York Police Department (NYPD) say that certain streets,
particularly those near the United Nations’ building, will be closed down on an
“as-needed-basis”.

The streets may be completely or partially closed, depending on the
exigencies, for the general traffic to allow the visiting dignitaries to reach
the United Nations building and return.

The traffic situation in Midtown East, in particular, becomes critical but
there are also other points where traffic reaches a choking point and produces a
serious traffic hemorrhage.

Traffic experts have been predicting that drivers will freeze in their
tracks whenever the U.S. President has to move around the city, particularly on
his way to or from the United Nations.

The same scenario should be expected whenever other heads of government or
state followed by the protocol motorcade head for or return from the General
Assembly meetings at the U.N. building.

But it is not just the traffic gridlock or the loud sirens of police cars
that will fray the nerves of New Yorkers. In addition to these traffic problems,
motorists will also have to face various checkpoints at bridges, tunnels and
lower Manhattan. This, as NYPD officials say, will be necessary because of the
enhanced security associated with this year’s 10th anniversary of the Sept 11
attacks.

Added to the commotion will be a string of demonstrations planned by various
interest groups in the city to “draw attention to some of the world’s burning
issues”, as security experts say.

Climate Week NYC, a series of events and discussions across the city, was
opened today hoping to attract attention of the world leaders to concentrate on
the state and progress of green technology, policies and other forces
influencing the global environment.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and New York mayor Mike Bloomberg
attended the opening ceremony of the week.

Even though Climate Week does not have any affiliation with the UNGA, the
series of events will coincide with the most crucial part of the General
Assembly when important leaders of the world will be here to participate in the
world body’s sessions.

“We would consider our efforts a success if the world leaders took
cognizance of the Climate Week,” said one of the representatives of the Climate
Week event.