KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 — Slapped with multiple sedition charges, youth activist Ali Abd Jalil confirmed today it was fugitive sex blogger Alvin Tan who advised him to seek political asylum abroad until a new government comes into power in Malaysia.

“Thanks to my friend Alvin Tan… He did advice [sic] me and tell what am I suppose to do,” Ali said in a public status update on his Facebook profile, referring to Tan who himself is seeking political asylum in the United States.

Earlier today, Tan had expressed support for Ali on his own Facebook page, saying that leaving and starting afresh in another country is “the best way to fight Umno”.

Tan said one should just “fight the good fight” from abroad, and only return when the ruling coalition has been “disposed of”.

“More and more persecuted dissidents realise that there’s simply no sense in sitting in prison to rot. It’d be a total waste of time, waste of money, and it’s pointless and completely useless to the political struggle anyway, save for some dubious symbolic ‘martyr value’.”

“I salute your courage and, more importantly, your wisdom, Ali,” Tan added.

Tan was slapped with multiple charges over his now-defunct sex blog and controversial Hari Raya greeting involving pork dish “bak kut teh”, and resurfaced in the cyberspace recently.

Despite successfully fleeing from political persecution, Ali conceded in the same status update that “it is not easy to live abroad”.

“MALAYSIA is our country, and we are so proud of Malaysia… But the government treated us like rubbish… full of racism and unhumanity [sic]…” he added.

Ali left Malaysia on October 18 and flew to Stockholm, Sweden, from Bangkok three days later, news portal Rakyat Times reported today.

According to the news portal, the young activist made contact with the Swedish chapter of Amnesty International upon arrival in the Scandinavian country, and was advised on how to apply for political asylum.

Ali was subsequently interviewed by the local immigration authorities last Thursday where he reportedly disclosed the full details of his court cases back home. He is now awaiting the results of his application.

Ali was among the 15 anti-government dissidents and opposition politicians who were arrested under the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948 in the space of one month.

The sedition dragnet has drawn domestic and international condemnation, putting the Najib administration’s reform pledge under the spotlight.

On September 8, after posting bail for one sedition charge of insulting the Johor royalty, Ali was rearrested and then charged again for another two counts — one for allegedly insulting the Sultan of Selangor and the other for undermining the royal institution.

He later claimed trial to the two charges at the Shah Alam Sessions Court with his bail set at RM4,000 for each count.