SYARIKAT Permainan Malaysia (SPM), a major player in the local games market, plans to give more emphasis to research and development (R & D) activities. For a start, it will to set up a separate R & D company, staffed with talented Malaysians to help create new games for the market.

"We feel that there are many talented Malaysians rich with ideas, but the problem of capital prevents them from making the best use of their abilities. To make full use of their ideas, we want to invite them to join our company which will be registered in July," said SPM managing director Mr Ting Sie Bing.

Mr Ting is best known for the invention of the "Queenie" mini snooker table which is gaining popularity in the US market. He said there is no alternative but to recognised the importance of R & D if the company wants to remain competitive. "For example, before we move into a foreign market, we have to study the type of games which are popular in the region besides offering quality products at competitive prices," said Mr Ting.

SPM's share of the local games market is about 50 per cent and last year, it recorded a turnover of more then $1 million. This year, the company expects sales to increase by 20 per cent. Apart from the US, the products are also exported to West Asian countries, Japan, Australia, West Germany and Italy. "We hope to break into the UK and Dutch markets this year," said Mr Ting.

The carrom board is popular in the West Asian market. SPM's main markets include the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Mr Ting said SPM's experience shows that local producers should take advantage of the ringgit's depreciation by intensifying their export market.

The company concentrates on wood-base products since the raw material is easily available locally. For the snooker table, "tamar minyak" and "ramin" woods are used. "The Malaysian game market is small but we hope that over the years, the number of people who spend their time indoors utilising their minds for 'intellectual games' and reading will increase," said Mr Ting.

The company will participate for the International Award for Invention sponsored jointly by the Science and Technology Ministry and the Education Ministry in August and the Product Excellency Award organised by the Trade and Industry Ministry.