JUDGMENT

Abdul Malik Ishak JCA:

The Background Facts

[1] Cessation of armed activities between the Government of Malaysia and the Communist Party of Malaya was a welcome news for all Malaysians. It became a reality on 2 December 1989. On that date, an agreement was entered between the Government of Malaysia (the fourth respondent/defendant) and the Communist Party of Malaya (the second appellant/applicant) to terminate armed hostilities between the parties (hereinafter referred to as the "agreement"). With the signing of the agreement, armed hostilities between the parties ended and peace prevailed. The terms of the agreement can be seen at p. 235 of the appeal record at Jilid 1 (hereinafter referred to as "ARJ1"). There were four articles to that agreement and the relevant ones read as follows:

Article 3 - Residence In Malaysia

3.1 Members of the Communist Party of Malaya and members of its disbanded armed units, who are of Malaysian origin and who wish to settle down in Malaysia, shall be allowed to do so in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.

3.2 Members of the Communist Party of Malaya and members of its disbanded armed units, who are not of Malaysian origin, may be allowed t