Freespace - More malls opening near you

YOU better sit down. I have news. Greater Kuala Lumpur will have 40 new shopping malls next year. Yes. Not four. Not 14. Forty! Yes, I knew you had to sit down. Take deep long breaths.
You can look forward to having your favourite retail outlets right by your doorstep. In fact, because 40 shopping malls will be opening their doors, we can expect an extremely competitive market, according to a business news report. Even more competitive, one would think, because malls have been reported to have been opening with just 50% occupancy.
Well, to be honest, I am ambivalent about 40 new malls. I have not stepped into many malls. I really have no time for them. I do most of my shopping online or else I know exactly what I want and where it is and I am in and out in a flash.
Actually, I lied. I am not overjoyed because I personally hate shopping malls. But that does not mean I cannot rejoice with the urban Malaysian shopper, right?
After all, where else could we possibly spend our evenings and weekends? At shopping malls, we get free air-conditioning and nice ambience, we get to cross the street to the shopping mall there and view the same stores with the same products at the same prices. If, however, this bores you, fear not. Shopping mall developers now intend to "leverage on other components within", according to the news report.
Yes, we can look forward to "integrated retail development" and "seamless connectivity" in these new shopping developments, making them stand apart from other shopping malls. Integrated with what and seamless into what, I am not too sure. Integrated sports development perhaps? Seamless mind body connection while shopping? Who's to know? This makes things so much more exciting though, does it not?
Not meaning to be a wet blanket though, because I like to think I am a positive person, just a day after this amazing news of 40 new malls, another piece of news hit the headlines, namely that bankruptcy among the young is curbing spending.
Standard & Poor's August report, as described by that news item, stated that households are accumulating debt faster than their incomes are growing. This will likely lead to repayment difficulties when the credit cycle turns, according to S&P.
In the same news item, the Department of Insolvency was reported to have stated that 5,547 individuals under age 35 were declared bankrupt last year, more than double the number in 2005. In the under 25 age group, 635 were declared bankrupt, triple the previous year's figure.
Well, I guess these 40 shopping malls will have a challenging year in 2016. With the economy being what it is and the newly employed faced with car loans, home loans, study loans and credit card loans, among other debts, one wonders who can buy what in these 40 malls, let alone the current 20-odd large urban shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur (this number does not include neighbourhood suburban malls).
I have detracted. Let's focus on the good things about these 40 new malls. All right, I have thought for a bit and can't think of the pros, aside from new jobs created. Two non-positives is the high likelihood of bad parking facilities and the inevitable traffic woes surrounding the malls.
You see, if we had the money to spend so that the economy is boosted it would be one thing. But we don't, except for those who would weather any economic situation anyway. We can't really go shopping. Going to a shopping complex, parking and perhaps an ice-cream might be expenses many cannot afford in this current economic climate. So what purpose do these malls serve?
Daniel freelances in writing and fitness training, and has a deep passion for health, fitness, sleep and travel. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com