Do the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, their leaders and members believe in their heart of hearts that their best interests are served under an Umno-led government?

Celebrations of at least two momentous dates provide us with the opportunity to re-examine Umno and ethnic politics in the country we love so much - May 13th, and Umno's anniversary.

The clearest lesson taught by Dr Kua Kia Soong's ground-breaking analysis of the 1969 riots as well as countless examples of violent ethnic conflict in Africa and elsewhere is simple: that ethnic tensions are almost invariably a function of politics, not the other way around.