5 million Malaysian smokers aged 18 and above

Health deputy director-general (Public Health) Datuk Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman said the group contributed to about 20,000 premature deaths yearly as a result of tobacco related complications.

"Among the main complications are cancer, chronic lung disease and cardiovascular diseases," he told reporters after launching the mQuit quit smoking service here Sunday.

Lokman Hakim said the ministry had drawn up various strategies to achieve its target of getting 390,000 smokers to quit the habit in three years.

He said the move was in line with the government's target to reduce tobacco consumption by 30 per cent in Malaysia by 2025.

"This mQuit programme is introduced to give smokers to get three levels of support, namely professional advice, materials to help quit smoking and enlisting the smoker's own willpower," he said.

The mQuit programme involves the cooperation of Universiti Malaya, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Akademi Farmasi Malaysia and Syarikat Johnson and Johnson Sdn Bhd.

It will be implemented at all health clinics throughout the country, selected pharmacies and online.

Some 140 private healthcare providers have also applied to get mQuit accreditation to get on board.