MARINA MAHATHIR, president of the Malaysian AIDS Council, says she'll urge foreign minister ALEXANDER DOWNER to take a flexible approach to the protection of patent rights for multinational pharmaceutical companies. 

The daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister MAHATHIR MOHAMAD wants Australia to take an independent stand on the rights and apply pressure on drug companies to reduce prices. 

She says there's room for really doing something to help people who can't afford the drugs. She is in Canberra for a World Health Organisation conference. 

She'll meet Mr DOWNER to plead for more Australian support for nongovernment organisations combating AIDS in Asia.