As Malaysians cringe at the sudden appearance of a bomoh in the search for missing flight MH370, a minister suggested such services be engaged to help in another calamity - the haze.

Saying this in apparent jest, Environment Minister G Palanivel ( left ) said that a bomoh can be called up if rain does not come to ease severe haze in the central region of Peninsular Malaysia.

"We have tried cloud seeding but now the planes have gone to the (MH370) rescue mission so that's another problem...

"I think rain is expected in the next two or three days. We must pray for it. Or call the bomoh to pray for it," he quipped at a press conference in Kajang today.

He also joked that rain would be expected on March 23, which coincides with polling day for the Kajang by-election.

The Meteorological Department had earlier reportedly said that rain is expected by the end of the month.

Palanivel was briefing the media on the crisis which has shut down schools in Klang, where air pollution index (API) readings reached "dangerous levels" of more than 300.

He is unclear when cloud seeding will recommence as it is under the Ministry of Science and Technology purview, but even, he said, this is a temporary measure.

"We had done cloud seeding in Hulu Kelang before and there was a downpour, but the next day it was dry again," he said.

He said that although the situation is severe, with 13 areas listed as "unhealthy" and two (Port Klang and Banting) "dangerous" earlier today, there is still no reason to declare an emergency (darurat).

The 13 areas are Tanjung Malim, Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Batu Muda, Cheras, Putrajaya, Nilai, Seremban, Port Dickson, Bukit Rambai, Malacca City and Muar.

He added that principals are advised to close schools at their discretion, should the API levels in their area exceeds 200.

DOE: No open burning ban for all

The Department of Environment (DOE) has also distributed 13,000 face masks to schools in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya in areas where haze is most severe.

Palanivel said that unlike before, the haze is mainly due to internal factors like forest fires and open burning, which has been exacerbated due to the dry season.

"I feel there is something going on. It is not a question of anger (towards those who defy open burning ban).

"We can't control it at times. People conduct open burning and if they get caught we fine them or send them to jail," he said.

As at March 12, there have been 1,441 cases of open burning probed by the DOE this year alone, mostly involving agricultural areas (491), forest fires (296), industrial areas (18), construction sites (47), waste disposal sites (25), bush lands (294) and other small open burning cases (270).

Up to 119 have been charged a compound while 23 warnings have been issued.

The penalty for open burning a fine of no more than RM500,000 fine or up to five years in jail, or both.

A maximum compound of RM2,000 can also be charged per offence.

DOE also issued a no open burning directive to all, including in "declared activities" where burning is allowed in law, in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya yesterday and Selangor on March 10.

"There are agricultural activities where burning is allowed so when we detect burning, we check if it is a declared activity or nor. But when the API reaches a certain level we declare a total ban," department director-general Halimah Hassan said.

She said even small fires in neighbourhoods to burn rubbish will make matters worse, especially during the dry season.

"We are very serious about irresponsible people who conduct open burning," she said.