A Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) could be set up to investigate the claims that there were masterminds behind the foreign intrusion in Lahad Datu, Sabah in February this year, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

However, he said, the RCI investigation should not disturb or affect that carried out by the relevant authorities.

"I support the pr oposals for the setting up of an RCI to investigate the incident if the public wants to know what really happened in Lahad Datu.

"But not to the extent of affecting the investigation going on now. I don't want the innocent to be accused of being the culprits and I also don't want the masterminds to go out of the country."

Hishammuddin said this after opening the 48th annual general meeting of the Malaysian Armed Forces Cooperative at the Sungai Buloh army camp, here, today.

Various quarters including former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had been calling for the setting up of an RCI to probe the intrusion in Lahad Datu.

On the three alleged masterminds behind the incident, Hishammuddin said the relevant authorities were investigating.

He also said that PKR vice-president Tian Chua had no right to urge the government to expose the masterminds after mocking members of the security forces involved in the operations to end the intrusion, including a number who were killed in the operations.

Hishammuddin stressed that the incident was very serious that the government had to establish the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) and Eastern Sabah Security Command.

"Hence, he (Tian Chua) has no right to make the call as he had made an irresponsible statement which hurt the feelings of the family members of the soldiers and policemen killed in the incident," he said.

On June 27, Tian Chua who is also Batu member of parliament, said the identity of the individuals said to be behind the intrusion should be revealed immediately so that they could be taken to court soonest possible.

In the Daulat Operation, which was launched on March 5, eight policemen and two soldiers were killed while Malaysian security forces shot dead 68 armed intruders from the southern Philippines and arrested 173 people under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.