The name of the development, in Pending, is a play on the words “new”, “Pending” and “Paddington”, a district in central London.

He said the project, the first integrated development in Sarawak, could boost development in the Pending area as various types of infrastructure would be constructed, Bernama reported.

“In terms of public transport, one of the stations (for the state’s autonomous rail transit project) is in Pendington. Nang nak lawan London kitak tok (We want to compete with London),” he said in jest after the groundbreaking ceremony for the project at the development site.

Paddington station is one of the stops on the London Underground railway.
The Pending project, a collaboration between UDA Holdings and the Sarawak Economic Development Corp (SEDC), is expected to be fully completed in 2029.

He said Pending is a strategic area as it is situated near the Sarawak River and Petra Jaya, which is rapidly developing, adding that the project will change the area’s landscape and dynamics.

UDA chairman Norliza Abdul Rahim said the first phase of the project will be completed in 2026 and the second phase will commence in 2027.

“This joint venture will give a return of almost RM98 million to SEDC, including 35 apartments, 12 stratified office-shop units and a hotel,” she said.

Several potential locations in Miri, Sibu, and Bintulu were being explored as part of UDA’s efforts to develop Sarawak and increase home ownership, especially among the Bumiputera group.

Abang Johari encouraged applicants for the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home residential visa programme to invest in apartments in Neu Pendington.