Malaysian ambassador to Switzerland Mohd Zulkephli Mohd Nor passed away this afternoon.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced this on his Facebook page today.

"My condolences to his family. May God bless his soul," Najib said.

Mohd Zulkephli died of liver cancer at 6.38 pm local time.

He is survived by widow Anna Amalina Imam Baweh and his five children.

A career diplomat, Mohd Zulkephli joined the diplomatic service in 1984.

He was appointed as ambassador to Switzerland on Jan 23, 2014.

Prior to his Swiss assignment, he was ambassador to Turkmenistan from 2011 and 2013.

He served as ambassador to Libya from 2009 to 2011.

Mohd Zulkephli also served on Malaysia's permanent mission to the UN in Geneva and was consulate general of Malaysia in Los Angeles, US.