The former finance minister said in the Penang state assembly that all revenue from gaming outlets was currently placed in the consolidated fund and used in federal budget allocations.

Lim said the recent unease among Muslims arising from the operation of gaming outlets was premised on the fact that the government was using revenue from such outlets for its programmes covering all communities.

“It appears that the money from such outlets is becoming an issue among Muslims. Will the government consider separating the revenue received to address the concerns of Muslims by holding the money in a different account?

“The money (tax revenue from gaming outlets) is not much, thus this money can be separated so that it does not make them feel uneasy,” he said when debating the 2022 Penang budget.

Lim said the whole gaming outlets brouhaha was a sign of creeping extremism, which had no place in a melting pot of cultures and faiths such as Penang.

Reports show that gaming taxes contribute about RM80 million a week to government coffers and that the government collected RM6.3 billion between 2008 and 2012.

More recently, the Dewan Rakyat was told that taxes from special draws were RM113.29 million in 2019, RM72.53 million (2020) and RM36.88 million (up to September this year).

On a different note, Lim said he was disappointed with the paltry federal allocation to Penang in the 2022 federal budget.

The state was allocated RM996 million in the budget, with chief minister Chow Kon Yeow earlier saying it should be at least RM5 billion based on the state’s gross domestic product contribution to the country.

“Where is the Keluarga Malaysia spirit in this?” Lim asked.

He said “thankfully there will be good news” for Penang at month’s end as a major chipmaker was expected to announce a large investment in the state.

He also said the finance minister had agreed to give investment grants to Penang for the purpose. “This will be a vote of confidence not just for Penang, but also Malaysia.”