The Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate said the debate would help voters get to know the candidates, their vision and mission for the constituency even more.

“The topics will cover national issues as well as local issues in Simpang Renggam.”

Mazlee, a former education minister, said so far only Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Hasni Mohammad had agreed to participate in the debate.

“We agreed to conduct the debate in a mature and gentlemanly manner,” Maszlee said after filing his nomination papers to defend the seat he won in the last general election (GE14).

He added that the debate will most likely be held at the Simpang Renggam district council office.

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) confirmed there would be a four-cornered contest in Simpang Renggam.

Maszlee will be taking on Hasni, who is a former Johor menteri besar, Fazrul Kamat of Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Kamal Kusmin (Pejuang).

The EC has set Nov 19 as polling day and Nov 15 for early voting. The GE15 campaign period starts today and ends at 11.59pm on Nov 18.