You cannot compare to Singapore market. Check the price of even Honda City there and you will get a heart attack. If you follow Malaysian/Thai car forums you will realise even people there are bashing Corolla/Civic on missing out on features and cite the options and features of US variants out of jealousy as comparison baseline.
Go to Toyota US and check the list of options you get in highest trim. Mind you, US is the largest market for Corolla/Camry, and not countries like Thailand/Indonesia/etc. from where you are drawing comparisons.
As for Civic always staying ahead of Corolla, I disagree with you here. Below are a couple of things that Toyota introduced first in our local market:
Tiptronic (in 2008)
Cruise Control (in 2008)
Airbags (in 2002!)
SatNav/Infotainment screens (in 2008)
1.8 litre engine category (in 2005)
Paddleshifters
Rain sensing wipers
Bi Xenon LEDs
Auto leveling headlamps
Might have missed quite a few.