Smiling MP farewelled

THE late Middle Ramu MP Jonny Alonk was described by his colleagues as a humble man, passionate about the issues in his district and country and always had a smile on his face and was full of positivity.
Alonk’s casket laid in State yesterday in Parliament where 26 MPs stood to pass on their sympathies and condolences to his family and the people of Middle Ramu and Madang.
Alonk was elected to Parliament in 2017, running under the United Resources Party.
He was the chairman for Public Works Committee and member of the culture and tourism committee and emergency committee between May 2019 and April.
Alonk was the vice minister for Foreign Affairs from May 10 until his passing. Finance Minister Sir John Pundari said Alonk was a leader full of smiles and a loving face.
“You could see benevolence around him,” he said.
Sir John said in Alonk, the attribute of servant leadership was found.
He said as a leader, he had to endure stress that came with the job with many competing priorities, expectations and pressure.
Sir John, who is Kompiam-Ambum MP, said while it was part of the job, people needed to appreciate that the MP’s life was not as easy as it looked.
He said Alonk was the fourth leader that had been lost this year with the other three being Sir Mekere Morauta, Kerema MP Richard Medani and Middle Fly MP Roy Biyama.
Sir John reminded his fellow MPs that life was fragile and they needed to look after their health.
Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa called on the Parliament to ensure that medical and healthcare services were available and accessible in Parliament.