"It is 5 percent for each province, so 5 percent of the quota in every province must be allocated for older adults," he said at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to him, the policy is being implemented to ensure that the older adults aged 65 years and above receive priority to depart for the pilgrimage.
Simanjuntak further said that Hajj pilgrims in the elderly group will be sorted by age, prioritizing the oldest first until the 5 percent quota is filled.
"For example, the oldest person in that province is 90 years old, so they will be sorted down until the 5 percent limit is reached, down to the youngest-old," he explained.
Furthermore, he also mentioned an allocation for companions of elderly pilgrims with certain conditions.
Some of the requirements include being a mahram (unmarriageable relative) or a direct family member of the elderly pilgrim, and having been registered in the Hajj queue for a minimum of 5 years.
The Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has earlier issued the 2026 Hajj plan, with pilgrims scheduled to start entering the Hajj dormitories on April 21.
The first wave of pilgrims is planned to start to depart on April 22, while the second wave will begin to depart on May 7.
Furthermore, after the conclusion of the pilgrimage, the Indonesian pilgrims will arrive in the country from June 1 to July 1, 2026.
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Translator: Maria C, Fathur R, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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