Former Parliamentary Secretary Tony Abela was not just a politician, but he worked tirelessly to help people, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said.

During a parliamentary session, MPs sent their condolences to the family of the former MP who passed away last week. Abela's family were in attendance.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne spoke about knowing Abela since they were students. Fearne said that his experiences with Abela were always positive, having been friends with him for a long time.

Grech continued that Abela was not just a politician, but he was a friend and a person who dedicated his time, offering a service for people.

"In my conversations with him these past two years I discovered a person who is reserved, a person of few words but who gave a big service towards the Nationalist party, as well as for the public in his Parliamentary Secretary role," Grech said.

He said that Abela was an anchor to people, a point of reference who always helped find solutions.

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia also spoke fondly of Abela, and said that he was a person who always put his family first. He recalled his time with him at university, saying that he and his colleagues described him as a person with a great sense of humour.