PUTRAJAYA: A strategic collaboration has been launched between the religious and health authorities to curb smoking among the B40 and asnaf (poor) groups, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

       The Health Minister said those involved in the initiative included the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), Health Ministry, Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

       "MAIWP has also agreed to fund efforts to help both the B40 and underprivileged groups to quit the habit (and bear) the cost of all medical treatment," he said when launching the mQuit mosque programme at the Tuanku Sultan Mirzan Zainal Abidin Mosque on Friday (April 22).

       Khairy added that the mQuit mosque programme, which aimed to curb smoking among Muslims, was part of efforts to achieve the generational endgame for smoking in 2040.

       The programme, which began on April 8, would be held every Friday at 12 mosques managed by Jakim and Jawi, he said.

       Earlier, Khairy had said a new law would be introduced to ban smoking and possession of tobacco products, including vape, for the generation born after 2005, as a generational endgame for smoking in the country.

       He said the introduction of the law would be able to reduce future generations' exposure to cigarettes and tobacco products, as tobacco use is the leading cause of cancer and contributes to 22% of cancer deaths.