Bumiputera players in the solar energy industry are justified for speaking out against Petronas’ decision to select Solarvest Energy Sdn Bhd to install solar panels on the company’s 300 petrol stations, said former Mara Corporation chairperson Akhramsyah Sanusi.

He said Petronas had erred not because it ultimately awarded the deal to Solarvest Energy, but because it did so in a closed tender in which none of the three companies invited to bid were bumiputera-owned.

“Malays can compete in the solar space big time but not when Petronas excluded them from taking part in closed tenders!