my assumption is that since the cPanel instructed me to use "#!/usr/bin/perlml", that the installation of DBD::mysql via the cPanel would be sing "#!/usr/bin/perlml".

Seems to me that their advice is to use either /usr/bin/perl or /usr/bin/perlml. I would suggest giving /usr/bin/perl a try (if you haven't already).

Cheers,
Rob