From zero to hero

'The Malay Mail' tracks former Customs D-G's road to success

IKRAM ISMAIL

PETALING JAYA: Friday, February 4th, 2011

For a boy growing up in the Jenderata estate in Hutan Melintang, Perak, a lofty position within the government seemed a mere pipe dream for Tan Sri Halil Abdul Mutalib.

It eventually became a reality for the former director-general of the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, who was recently bestowed the Tokoh Kastam 2011 award in recognition of his services.

Now 64, Halil said such ambitions seemed impossible then for someone who had to help his parents sell kuih, as well as gather scrap rubber to help his family make ends meet.

Recalling his childhood, the eldest of four siblings had lived in Jenderata where his father worked as a estate worker. "My father, Abdul Mutalib Abdul Rahman, worked under the supervision of an English man."




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