If the flight code isn't on the Partner's list of codes to earn points (at any rate) then it won't earn ANY elite points. This seems a particular problem with CX and Qantas and Basic Economy tickets on American and BA.
I'm looking at doing DUB-DOH-KUL early next year for about £550 which should (hopefully) earn me 32 Elite Points, plus a business class return to DUB from LCY for another 4 points. Then probably going to do an ex-EU to the West Coast of the US later to get to Malaysian Airline Gold status. On their distance charts (both old and new) it makes a lot more sense to go DUB-DOH then LHR-DOH.

If I regularly flew Asia to Europe then routing via KUL, DOH, DUB you could probably earn platinum status in 4 trips in Economy (128 points plus flights to and from wherever you are going in Europe/Asia). Of course it's a lot of connections and there's hotel costs unless you are a masochist.