Afghan compassion has political face in Malaysia. (Asia News: a summary of the top stories in the Asia Pacific region).

MOVED by daily reports of casualties among Muslim civilians in Afghanistan and a looming refugee crisis there, Malaysians are busily mobilising medical teams to help on the ground.

But in a predominantly. Islamic country where the Muslim vote holds the key to power, compassion also has a political face.

The Malaysian Medical Relief Society, a non-governmental organisation better known as Mercy Malaysia, last week flew a team in to Pakistan to help Afghans flooding into refugee camps there.

"We are apolitical and transcend all race, religion and colour," Mohd Shah, executive secretary at Mercy Malaysia said last week.

"The others may get …