Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said that he is ready to openly debate 'religious extremism' in Malaysia with Pertubuhan Ahli Sunnah Waljamaah (Aswaja) chief Zamihan Mat Zin.

"I have accepted his invitation and he has also agreed. I hope the debate will be broadcast live on TV and the Internet. God willing, some good will come out from it," wrote the Perlis mufti on his Facebook page.

Asri had earlier accepted the debate challenge issued by the controversial religious preacher. He also uploaded a digital copy of the invitation Zamihan sent to him.

The debate is slated for next Wednesday at the Prime Minister Department's ICU Auditorium in Putrajaya and will feature Astro Awani editor Nazri Kahar as the moderator.

Zamihan's letter said one of the main objectives of the debate was to do away with the culture of name-calling and encourage proper intellectual discourse.

The debate also aims to find common ground and resolve differences besides providing explanations so that future actions will be based on truths and not on ill intentions.

Zamihan in his own Facebook posting earlier had stated that he was ever ready to face off with Asri and did not fear a showdown.

He also stated that he expected Asri to resign from his post if the mufti was to lose in the upcoming debate.

"I am ready 24 hours a day to intellectually debate him on whatever topic. He is free to chose any topic, any location and participant, or format.

"I am not scared to face off against a mufti like him. But if he loses, he must resign and stop slandering me," said Zamihan in his post, though he did not mention any names.

Prior to this the mufti and the preacher had been sparring as both sides argued their own interpretation of Islamic teachings.