We have the prime minister extolling the virtues of 'Asian values' over the decadent West. We have the leaders of PAS pushing to see Malaysia become an Islamic state.

And we now have over 400 Afghanistan refugees on a container ship built to cater to 17 crew denied entry into a Western country they so much want to go to.

This is one country which in recent weeks, due to gang rapes by mid-eastern young men of Caucasion women, has now got very little love lost for mid-eastern refugees stepping off illegally onto their shores.

Yet many of these Afghans are said to have got to where they are now through Malaysia. It's a wonder why they chose not to stay in Malaysia which is supposedly devoid or at least in denial of Western influences, which lives by 'Asian values' and is almost an Islamic state!

These Afghans would have found many friends in Malaysia, from the government to the opposition from PAS.

Would it not be a great thing for Malaysia's 'Asian value' consciousness as well as its Islamic credentials that it do the moral thing and volunteer to receive all the refugees for resettlement in Malaysia? The resolution to the stalemate can only be found within the context of human morality.