SEPANG: The body of Malaysian Ambassador to Switzerland Datuk Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Noor safely arrived at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today.
The remains arrived in Malaysia via Lufthansa Airlines Flight LH782, which landed at 5.19pm.
Zulkephli's coffin was later brought to the Bunga Raya Complex at the KLIA.
Family members, relatives and friends appeared solemn, with many in tears as the hearse approached the complex.
The crowd observed a moment of silence and recited the Al-Fatihah.
The body was then taken to the Sultan Abdul Samad Mosque here for funeral prayers.
The body will be buried at Muar, Johor.
Present were Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah; Switzerland Ambassador to Malaysia Michael Winzap; Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican; Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Othman Hashim and Menteri Besar Perlis Datuk Seri Azlan Man.
Zulkephli died in Berne, Switzerland on Feb 3 due to liver cancer.
The 57-year-old is survived by his wife, Datin Anna Amalina Imam Baweh and five children.
Mohd Zulkephli started his service as an administrative and diplomatic officer in 1984. Prior to his appointment as the ambassador to Switzerland, was Malaysia's ambassador to Turkmenistan.
He was also the ambassador to Libya from 2009 to 2011, during which he was directly involved in the evacuation exercise of Malaysians from Libya.
During his diplomatic career, Mohd Zulkephli had served in Los Angeles and Geneva.