{
  "id": 12111198,
  "title": "Karak Puspen opens after delays with 500-client capacity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/karak-puspen-opens-after-delays-with-500-client-capacity",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T08:17:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1548206/karak-puspen-opens-after-delays-500-client-capacity"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BENTONG: The Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) in Karak, Malaysia, finally opened its doors after facing numerous delays, with a capacity to accommodate up to 500 clients. The RM72.1 million project, originally estimated at RM68.8 million, took longer than expected to complete, with construction and upgrades aimed at providing improved facilities and a higher capacity compared to its previous 150-client limit. Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi highlighted the project's completion on July 2024, despite technical and operational challenges that were overcome through continuous monitoring and cooperation among all parties. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim visited the site in January to inspect the progress. The centre now boasts 10 hostel blocks, a family visitation block, dining hall, mosque, and workshop facilities for agriculture, sewing, and welding, as well as air-conditioned lecture rooms and a control centre with CCTV surveillance.",
  "summary": "BENTONG: The Narcotics Addiction Rehabilitation Centre (Puspen) in Karak has been completed at a cost of RM72.1 million, up from its initial RM68.8 million.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}