Unable to start nfs/smb/iptables and most of the services after reboot, getting error "syntax error at line 558: `=~' unexpected"

Issue

• Unable to start nfs/smb/iptables and most of the services after reboot, getting error "syntax error at line 558: `=~' unexpected"

  # /etc/init.d/nfs start
  /etc/init.d/nfs[14]: .: syntax error at line 558: `=~' unexpected
  /etc/init.d/nfs[47]: whence: -t: unknown option
  /etc/init.d/nfs[47]: whence: -h: unknown option
  Usage: whence [-afpv] name  ...
  /sbin/service[3]: .: syntax error at line 558: `=~' unexpected
  /etc/init.d/nfs[52]: action: not found [No such file or directory]
  Starting NFS daemon: /etc/init.d/nfs[71]: daemon: not found [No such file or directory]
  

• Also noticed the following messages in /var/log/messages:

  Oct 29 00:22:04 hostname1 kernel: FS-Cache: netfs 'nfs' registered for caching
  Oct 29 00:22:39 hostname1 kernel: portmap: server localhost not responding, timed out
  Oct 29 00:22:39 hostname1 kernel: RPC: failed to contact portmap (errno -5).
  Oct 29 00:23:14 hostname1 kernel: portmap: server localhost not responding, timed out
  Oct 29 00:23:14 hostname1 kernel: RPC: failed to contact portmap (errno -5).
  Oct 29 00:23:14 hostname1 kernel: lockd_up: makesock failed, error=-5