Answered

Arman is an environmentalist. He often enjoys strolling in the park enjoying the nature and
watch documentaries about the way human activities impact can be reduced. One fine day,
while watching some morning news with his breakfast, he watched how private residences
can now generate solar energy to reduce the dependency on the existing coal-burning
generated energy.
Interested, he started surveying for the cost of installing the solar panel. He feels that this is
the right way to move forward, to rely more on the renewable source of energy. Since
Malaysia is strategically located, solar energy seems like the best option for Arman. He found
out that the cost of installing solar panels depends on many factors, such as the number of
solar panels required, the system capacity and the type of roof. Since Arman is living in a
bungalow, one of the consultants that he met quoted that he’d be needing a 25 solar panels,
with 11 kWp (kilowatts peak) system and quoted Rm 45 000 for the whole cost of
installation.
Arman was taken aback because of the quotation price, thinking that it is out of his financial
power as of now. He continued looking for a cheaper option when he met Adni one fateful
day. Adni used to work as the manager for one of the solar panel installation companies in
Melaka, and is now advertising her place to sell, since she is migrating to Dubai, where she’ll
settle down for good.
They were talking about how solar panel can generate the needed energy to run a house when
Adni suddenly offered Arman to purchase her solar panel set that she plans to install, but not
anymore since she’s planning on migrating. The set contains 26 solar panels, with a system
capable of generating 13 kWp for just RM 20 000. Arman asks her on the condition of the
set, and she convinces him that it is brand new. Arman proceeded to follow Adni home to
check on the said solar panels. Upon checking the panels, Arman is satisfied with its
condition and wired her the agreed price of RM 20 000 thus concluding the deal.
Happily, Arman then requested Adni to contact her installer to complete the installation.
Clearly the solar panel is capable to generate enough electricity to run his house as mentioned
by Adni. Arman was so ecstatic when he realizes that his house is no longer relying on the
electricity provided by the local service provider.
However, his joy was short-lived, exactly a month after the installation, his solar panels
stopped working. He proceeded to contact Adni who has successfully migrated to Dubai
when Adni advised him to contact her old company to claim for the warranty. Arman
followed her suggestion and the company sent a technician to his house.
The technician told him that the panels she purchased from Adni are not a brand new, but a
reconditioned unit. Arman felt cheated and angry since he couldn’t claim for the replacement
panel and he needs to fork out more money to repair the solar panels. He sent out an email to
Adni explaining the situation to which she responded back with a claim that Arman should
have checked the panels thoroughly and perhaps by using his ordinary diligence, he could
have detected the problems of the panels before concluding the deal.

Assess the applicability of Adni’s defence, as she asserted that she is not to be blamed
as Arman had the means to check the full condition of the machine during the meet up
session.