SHAH ALAM, Nov 12 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said today he was not affected by those who ridiculed his emotional plea for federal aid after massive floods hit the state last weekend.

"It is okay if people mock me or ridicule me for it, as long as the people get the help they needed,” Lim said, referring to his emotional plea for help at 3.30am on November 5 after the state was ravaged by floods.

Lim had called on Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to provide help for Penang to overcome the destruction left by the storm and floods.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, was speaking while opening the party’s special congress to re-elect its central executive committee (CEC) here today.

Lim also thanked Zahid and other federal government leaders for coming to the aid of Penang after the floods.

"I appreciate the federal government for its quick response to my plea of assistance on that fateful early hour of 5th November,” he said.

Lim said that he saw the coming together of all Malaysians to help those affected by the floods, regardless of political affiliation, or race or religion.

"The Penang disaster also saw the coming together of Malaysians transcending race, religion or politics,” he said.

"We now know people like the bilal, Sapno Tukijo, who opened up a surau to 70 non-Muslim flood victims at Taman Free School; the Kew Ong Yeah temple along Jalan Megat Harun in Bukit Mertajam which took in five Malay families; and many Muslim and non-Muslim NGOs who extended their helping hands to all victims, regardless of race, religion or politics,” he added.

To date, Lim said public donations given to Penang DAP for the floods have reached RM7.55 million.

While RM5 million has already been handed to the state government, the remaining monies would be handed to the state for flood relief efforts "soon”, he added.