Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will visit Australia next month, in the first trip here by a Malaysian leader in 21 years, the government announced Sunday. Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced that Abdullah would visit less than two years after he replaced former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who ruled for 22 years. Mahathir last visited Australia as prime minister in 1984. "I welcome the fact that (Abdullah) is coming to Australia," Howard told Seven Network television. "I know him well. He is a good friend of Australia and we have a lot in common with Malaysia." Howard's office was not immediately able to provide the dates in April that Badawi would visit.
