“Rakan Pembimbing Perkhidmatan Awam” is a specific name for officers appointed as “Pembimbing Rakan Sekerja” as required in Public Service Circular No. 18 of the Year 2005. “Rakan Pembimbing” serves as a driving force for the implementation of first-class work culture in public service. It is established to provide a channel for officers to address work-related issues and to provide opportunities for officers to function effectively in assisting the Human Resource Manager in the agency. Additionally, “Rakan Pembimbing” aims to contribute to human capital development efforts in managing human resources.
The term Rakan Pembimbing Perkhidmatan Awam (AKRAB) refers to the important characteristics of Amanah, Komitmen, Rasional, Akhlak, and Bestari that should be possessed by a mentor. Without these characteristics, one’s role as a mentor would be less effective. AKRAB is also a rebranding of various mentoring roles in the agency, including mentor, coworker mentor, advisory officer, counseling officer, and other names that refer to the role of a mentor in the agency. This means that in the public service, an officer who plays the role of a mentor overall will be known as AKRAB.
In 1999, the Public Service Department issued a Service Circular No. 1 of 1999 entitled “Guidelines for Establishing Counseling Services in Public Agencies”. Through this circular, each ministry and department was expected to establish a Counseling Service Unit formally and systematically. Meanwhile, the appointed counselors consisted of existing officers and they needed to be given basic counseling skills training. Service Circular No. 18 of 2005: Application of Psychology in Public Sector Human Resource Management specifically included the implementation of AKRAB in Public Agencies. To meet this need, the Psychology Services Division has provided 2 stages of the Counseling Skills Enhancement Program (PPKK) module for use by ministries and departments in training members who will be appointed as AKRAB. Each module is implemented for 3 days. The aim of this program is to provide exposure and understanding of the function and role of counseling to officers in the public service.
Officers who have completed the two stages of the counseling skills enhancement course are eligible to be certified by the Public Service Department as Public Service Mentor Partners (AKRAB) with an AKRAB registration number and can function as mentor partners to the agencies where they serve.”
