There needs to be more clarity on the issue of insurance to cover passengers of private-hire cars in the event of an accident.

Tuesday's report on the death of a passenger in such a car ("Teenager in private-hire car dies after crash on SLE") had Mr Derek Teo, chief executive of the General Insurance Association of Singapore, saying that unless the vehicle owner had purchased cover to include the use of the vehicle for "hire and reward" - to ferry passengers in return for a fare - the insurer is not liable for injury to passengers.

However, in the same report, Mr K. Anparasan, partner at Withers KhattarWong, said there is also a Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act which affords protection to injured victims in such scenarios.

Could the authorities clear the air on this matter?

Benny Tan Cheng Kiat