Political parties in Indonesia spend more time taking care of themselves than providing programs that benefit their constituents, according to a survey released Wednesday.

The survey, conducted by non-governmental organization Partnership Indonesia from March 24 to April 15, also found political parties have failed to educate people about their rights and obligations as citizens under the country's democratic system.

It interviewed 770 executives of the country's seven major parties plus 500 local constituents in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Aceh.

The survey examined the activities of the Golkar Party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the United Development Party (PPP), the Democratic Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), and the Justice Prosperous Party (PKS) in the three provinces.

It found only 30 percent of constituents were satisfied with how the parties addressed their concerns.

"But, some 70 percent of party member respondents claim that they have done their jobs well," survey team member Nico Harjanto from Partnership Indonesia said.

The survey found the major parties had not made sufficient efforts to educate their constituents on important issues, such as regional and national financial budgets, as well as the drafting of certain laws.

Sixty percent of party members admitted that their political organizations never talked about these issues with their constituents, it added.

Over 46 percent of party executives said their central boards made decisions on candidates as governors, mayors or regents, while over 67 percent of the respondents said the party's central headquarters made final decisions on legislative candidates.

Researchers found political parties are now less ideological, with 61 percent of their officials saying they were never involved in conflicts because of ideological orientation.

Most party conflicts centered around disputes over nominations for regional and national legislative positions, and on coalitions with other parties during direct regional elections.

Charta Politica Indonesia executive director Bima Arya Sugiarto, speaking at a seminar to announce the survey's results, said it was common knowledge that most political parties in Indonesia were corrupt and did not care about their constituents.

Another speaker Hafiz Anshary, chairman of the National Elections Commission (KPU), said many parties in the country were only a commodity for their executives and members to enrich themselves.

"For instance, if we want to become a legislative member, governor, or mayor representing a certain party, we must pay billions of rupiah," he said.

Bima said parties had also maintained their "centralistic" character, with their central boards holding powers to determine the candidates for regional executive heads and legislators.

"But we should push parties to reform themselves as they are the cornerstone of democracy. We have no other choice but to strengthen them to make our democratic system better," he said.