After a few hiccups, the much-vaunted debate between two leaders of Umno and PAS o­n people's religious schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat looks set to proceed as technical discussions are nearly completed, said representatives from the two parties.

At a discussion yesterday chaired by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka director-general Aziz Deraman - who will also moderate the debate - it was decided that the Feb 16 debate will be divided into three rounds.

Each speaker is given 30 minutes in the first round, another 20 minutes in the second, and a final 10 minutes for the concluding arguments.

PAS is represented by its Youth deputy chief Salahuddin Ayub (left) and Umno by its supreme council member Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (photo).