Taiwan chief administrator Jiang Yi-huah announced his resignation after the ruling Kuomintang suffered a defeat in local elections held on Saturday.

Jiang announced the decision at a news conference on Saturday evening and it was approved by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou.

Jiang said the voting results showed the public's discontent with the government administration, and he decided to take political responsibility, hoping Ma would appoint a new chief administrator as soon as possible to face the challenges.

Ma, also chairman of the KMT, said he accepted the resignation of the party's Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan at a separate news conference.

"The KMT has suffered a huge defeat in the elections, and I must apologize to all the party members and supporters as well," Ma said, adding he will soon propose a reform plan to respond to the people's appeal.

The KMT won six county and city chief seats in Taiwan's biggest ever local elections, while the opposition Democratic Progressive Party landed 13 seats, according to the island's electoral authorities.

The other three seats of the island's 22 county and city chiefs were picked up by independent candidates.

The polls to select 11,130 holders for nine types of public office ranging from mayors to county chiefs, city councilors and village leaders, known as "nine-in-one elections", were held from 8 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

The elections are the biggest in history in terms of both candidates and open positions. It is the first time Taiwan residents have elected officials for so many local government and legislative positions simultaneously.