Prior to her appointment as the Mayor of Pontianak, Muthalib worked as a beauty expert. She graduated with a cosmetology degree from the Cor van der Leeuw Institute.[3] Muthalib became the first Indonesian to become a cosmetologist after her graduation.[4]
Muthalib was appointed as the Mayor of Pontianak by the Minister of Internal Affairs Mohammad Roem in 1952.[5] She was one of the two female mayors appointed during Roem's term.[6] Muthalib was the first female to serve as the mayor of Pontianak.[7] She served for four years until 1956.[5] Muthalib was credited by Roem for fixing "minor but important" problems in the city, such as garbage problems and potholes.[6] On one occasion, Muthalib was reported to have spent 250 thousand rupiahs for the extension of eight main roads in the city, reparation of bridges and improvement of pavements.[8]
During her term, she faced protests from trade unions affiliated with the Central All-Indonesian Workers Organization.[6] The trade unions demanded a raise. However — as Roem described it — she handled the protesters "like her own children" and managed to subdue the demand.[9]
In 1954, Muthalib held the city's first press exhibition. The exhibition, which was organized by the Pembangunan newspaper, displayed thousands of daily publications and magazines.[10]
At the end of her term — between 1955 and 1956 — Muthalib embarked on a program to provide the city with clean water.[11]
After her resignation from the mayoral office, she stated that "It is easier to sit in a beauty salon than to sit as a mayor."[9]
She lived in the city of Bandung (West Java) after retirement. Since 1978, Muthalib underwent several treatments in the hospital due to complications.[11] Muthalib died at 23:00 on 7 April 1983 in Jakarta. She was buried at a cemetery in Bogor.[3]
She was married to Abdul Muthalib, a civil engineer. The marriage resulted in five children (four sons, one daughter), the daughter was Nani Razak, a famous Indonesian female lawyer.[3]
The main hall at the Pontianak City Development Planning Agency is named after Muthalib.[7]
