Malaysia's next prime minister won an influential royal leader's support Thursday in a political battle with the opposition, clearing the way for the ruling coalition to seize control of a key state. Recapturing northern Perak state would be a triumph for Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, who supporters hope will revive the ruling National Front coalition's flagging popularity when he takes over the premiership in late March. It is also a blow to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's three-party alliance, which won an unprecedented five of Malaysia's 13 states in general elections last year. Najib insisted his coalition had wrested control of Perak's legislature after three lawmakers quit the opposition Wednesday and became friendly independents'' for the Front.