PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur High Court yesterday deferred an injunction hearing for harassment brought about by Malaysia’s premium fashion brand BritishIndia against its landlord, Suria KLCC, to allow both parties to settle their dispute amicably.

Both parties will report to judge Datuk Norbee Ariffin on the outcome of their settlement on March 5.

Lawyer M Sivaraj, who appeared for BritishIndia, said Suria KLCC management would propose some terms of undertaking for his client to consider.

“We will go through the proposal and will advice BritishIndia accordingly on the next course of action,” he told reporters after emerging from the judge’s chambers last evening.

The store’s founder, Pat Liew, in an immediate response said the ball was now in Suria KLCC’s court.

“They have promised to propose some undertakings. Until we hear from them and have carefully evaluated the proposal, it is inappropriate for us to comment further,” Liew said.

BritishIndia, which is reputed for its branded apparel, has filed a suit against Suria KLCC for forcing it to move from its current prime location to another spot in the mall.

The order to move was served in July last year, in which it was given four days to accept unconditionally the mall’s relocation offer.

Since then, BritishIndia has been negotiating to stay in its current location, adding that the order came after it had paid the rental for July 2014.

BritishIndia also filed an injunction to prevent the management of Suria KLCC from carrying out its threat.

Suria KLCC, represented by T Kuhendran, has also filed a counter suit for vacant possession of the property.

BritishIndia believes that the current lot would be leased to a foreign fashion brand present in the mall.

“If BritishIndia is forced to leave, it will mark the end of a successful Malaysian fashion brand having a presence in the country’s iconic shopping mall,” Liew added.

Meanwhile, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, who earlier in the day met both parties, said they would find a win-win solution in their dispute. — The Malaysian Insider

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 25, 2015.