The three former top officials cannot remain silent following former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim they were betrayed,  Wanita Umno information chief Rosni Zahari said today.

Mahathir claimed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak would have faced action if former Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz, former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed, were not betrayed.

He alleged that the trio, who have the honorific 'Tan Sri' titles, could have been betrayed by another top official who holds the same title.

"If this is not true, I urge the trio to come forward and make a statutory declaration refuting it.

"They must also take legal action against Mahathir for smearing their good name and excellent service record by linking them with a heinous crime," Rosni said in a statement.

Rosni said a conspiracy to topple an elected prime minister was a form of treason.

Mahathir's claim comes a month after Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun lodged a police report claiming the Tan Sri trio were conspiring to topple Najib by leaking confidential information to foreign enforcement agencies.

Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would not take any action on Khairul Azwan's police report as it was based on assumptions.

Asked yesterday if the fourth Tan Sri is the police chief Khalid, Mahathir said: "I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t want to be arrested.”

Gani had earlier refuted Khairul Azwan's claim, while Zeti and Abu Kassim remained mum, citing legal advice.

Gani was replaced suddenly last year, purportedly for a health reason, while Zeti and Abu Kassim retired this year.