Adam,
A windmilling engine will still produce vibrations, so it could have been shutdown.
And as Mark pointed out, Learmonth probably isn't the best option for a diversion.
I see this a lot lately, where people automatically assume that if you have an engine failure or a problem, that you must land at the nearest aerodrome. Not the case at all. In fact there's even a paragraph in the CAO's that says in the event of an engine failure, that the Captain can overfly an aerodrome to reach another that may have more strategic advantages (think RFFS, ATC, Approaches, Recovery, Customs in this case).
Without all the specifics, no one can know for sure whether a good decision was made.
Referring to the Airbus Engine Vibration checklist, nowhere in the checklist does it say to shut down the engine (until after landing actually) just because high engine vibration is being experienced. That decision comes after weighing up all the options etc.
Personally I wouldn't fly Air Asia, but before you crucify the Captain (maybe a bit of work needed on his PA's though), put yourself in his shoes and consider that there's a lot more to it than simply "shut her down".
Mick
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