One too many paid third spaces?

If a person walks into any modern mall or shopping complex in the Klang Valley, Johor Baru or Penang, he or she will find an environment explicitly designed to capture that person’s time. With over 1,000 malls and shopping complexes spread throughout Malaysia, shoppers are undeniably spoilt for choice.

Step away from the traditional storefronts and one is immediately greeted by a sprawling ecosystem of lifestyle lounges, glass-fronted coworking zones, artisanal coffee shops and deeply cushioned seating alcoves.