Value Deficits in Conventional Anti-Human Trafficking Mechanisms in Malaysia: Manifestations and Organisational Causes

Human trafficking remains a major transnational crime despite the implementation of various conventional anti-human trafficking mechanisms in Malaysia. Existing studies have primarily attributed the weaknesses of these mechanisms to legal, administrative, and operational limitations, while relatively little attention has been given to the underlying role of ethical values in shaping implementation effectiveness. This study therefore examines value deficits in the implementation of conventional anti-human trafficking mechanisms in Malaysia. Specifically, the study aims to examine how value deficits are manifested in the implementation of existing mechanisms and to identify the organisational and structural factors that contribute to these value deficits. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Purposive sampling was used to select participants from government agencies, enforcement authorities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and academic experts who possess extensive experience in anti-human trafficking governance. The data were analysed using thematic analysis with the support of ATLAS.ti software. The findings reveal that value deficits are manifested through five key dimensions: integrity in law enforcement, justice in legal processes, empathy in victim protection, civic responsibility in public awareness, and trust in inter-agency collaboration. These value deficits are primarily influenced by organisational and structural factors, including divergent institutional approaches, weak monitoring and accountability, resource constraints, organisational and logistical barriers, and financial limitations. The study argues that the weaknesses of conventional anti-human trafficking mechanisms are not solely the result of operational deficiencies but also reflect deeper ethical governance challenges. This study contributes to the anti-human trafficking literature by introducing a value deficit perspective as an alternative framework for understanding institutional weaknesses. The findings provide practical insights for policymakers to strengthen anti-human trafficking governance by integrating ethical values with organisational and institutional reforms

Human trafficking; value deficits; anti-human trafficking mechanisms; ethical governance; Malaysia; qualitative research

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