The proposal to amend the UMNO constitution by inserting a new clause regarding the acting deputy president's post is valid.

UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the recommendation made by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should not be misjudged or misunderstood by anyone.

"If we analyse his (Ahmad Zahid) speech, his statement is valid because he saw how difficult it was for Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when they had to carry out their duties without an assistant," he said in a statement here, today.

The proposal by Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO vice-president and the party's deputy president should be brought up to the party first before any amendment could be made to the constitution.

Tengku Adnan said the statement should not taken as polemic as it was very clear and obvious.

He believed that the proposal by Ahmad Zahid was made to bring long term solutions for the party, not for his persoanl interests. -- BERNAMA