The problem is unrestrained GREED of the developers in sky high rentals. Therefore the all important role of a responsible govt to balance and control rentals the way runaway bubbles of property spiral out of control.
Some may say there is over-development resulting in TOO many malls and thence repetition of the same shops everywhere, with not enough shoppers to go around to keep the retailers in business to survive the high rentals. Boom and Bust cycles need to be better managed for everyone's good.
The problem is that sinkies like you fail to see the big picture.
Without the returns of higher rentals, no land developer would ever develop property or refurbish rundown buildings. That explains why most daft sinkies are bewildered by rental increments each time a coffee shop or hawker centre undergoes renovations.
And if there are not enough shoppers to support the current number of malls, doesn't that tell you that you should embrace the 6.9M population proposal put forth in Parliament? Look at all the malls, mrt and new industrial areas sprouting up around you. You think 4 million sinkies alone can sustain it? We need more tourists, more S-Pass and E-Pass purchasing power people to support all these new assets.