The Penang magistrate's court today ordered SOS (Save Ourselves) leader Ong Boon Keong and member Ooi Chuan Seng to be remanded another five days to facilitate police investigation.

The order was made at the Penang police headquarters where the two are being held since Friday for being involved in a protest against the lifting of the Rent Control Act, which has resulted in high rentals of many premises on the island.

About 100 rent-control residents turned up this morning at the Penang's Magistrate Court as a show of support for Ong and Ooi. Outside the court, FRU trucks stood by but there were no untoward incidents reported.

Lawyer S. Asamelay, who represents both of the detainees told malaysiakini that he would immediately file an application to the High Court to rescind the remand order. He added that it was improper for the case to be heard in the police headquarters.

"They should be brought to court," said Asamelay.

Asamelay and another lawyer appointed by the family were not present at the scene when the remand hearing was heard as they were waiting outside the courthouse.

He said that neither the relatives nor the lawyers succeeded in meeting the duo since they were arrested last Friday night.

"Why were the two detainees denied the universally accepted right of legal counsel? And why don't judges and magistrates insist that the judicial process take place within the sanctity of the courthouse?" said Aliran president P. Ramakrisnan in a statement faxed to malaysiakini today.

Aliran called upon the police to release both the detainees immediately and unconditionally.

"To remand them for a further five days is harsh and cruel," Ramakrishnan said.

Ong and Ooi were arrested on Friday after the group sought to confront Penang Chief Minister Koh Tsu Koon regarding the impact of lifting of rent control of pre-World War Two buildings on low-income families.

It was expected that both of them would be charged for illegal assembly or rioting. However according to Asamelay, no offence had been committed.

It was reported that SOS held a silent demonstration during the opening of the "8-Row" Heritage House on Krian Road by the chief minister on Friday. While Koh was about to get into his car, a tenant representative presented a memorandum to Koh, who replied in Hokkien: "I will help you.

Meanwhile, SOS treasurer Leong Yuet Khau was arrested this afternoon after the police announced he was wanted to help in the investigation. He presented himself at the police station in Jalan Patani, accompanied by Asamelay

Ong, popularly known as "Organic Ong" because he runs an organic farm, is one of the founders of SOS, a group of 1,000 members championing the cause of people affected by the repeal of the Rent Control Act.

Penang had 12,577 units of pre-war buildings. The repeal of the Rent Control Act on Jan 1 this year affects 16,116 families and 60,273 people.

According to SOS, since the Act come into force, more than 100 households have been evicted, about 550 households face rising rentals and eviction, and another 220 households had moved due to unaffordable rentals.

A member of Penang Repeal Rent Control Act People Action Committee, said rent increases were from RM100 to RM700, RM290 to RM3,000 and the highest from RM200 to RM10,000.